*EKKtlfy 

LttRARY 

UNIVERSITY  Of 
CAUFOrm^ 


HISTORY 


£*  tnh 


IB*  WHILMAM  AMfflE. 


DEATH   OF  RASr.KS. 


^©(SIKs 

w  a  mi®  So  wm  m  i? 


HI  fits 


PREFACE. 


To  the  CITIZENS  OF  NORRIDGEWOCK,  this  Volume  is 
respectfully  dedicated. 

The  materials,  collected  with  much  expense  and  labor, 
have  been  for  some  time  in  a  course  of  preparation.  In 
the  arrangement  of  the  work,  particular  attention  has 
been  paid  to  its  chronology.  If  aught  of  value  or  inter- 
est may  be  discovered  within  its  leaves,  —  if  its  pages 
shall  contribute  to  the  laudable  curiosity  of  those  wh0 
love  the  faithful  records  of  the  past,  or  interest  in  any 
degree  the  descendants  of  the  early  settlers,  the  design 
of  its  publication  will  have  been  accomplished. 

W.  A. 

Norridgewock,  1849.  E.  J.  P. 


864 


EMBELLISHMENTS 


1  —  Death  of  Rasles,  First  Title.  page. 

2  —  View  of  a  portion  of  the  North  Village,  9. 
3 —Old  Point,  23. 

4  —  Monument,  46. 

5  —  View  of  a  portion  of  the  North  and  South 

Villages,  59. 

6  —  Court  House  and  Congregational  Church,  99. 
7 —  Female  Academy,  133. 
8— -Union  Church,                                            217. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I. 
The    Aborigines. 

Names — Habits  of  the  Indians — Various  accounts  by  the  French  and 
English — Policy  towards  the  Natives  —  Discoveries  and  Settlements  in 
Maine — Sebastian  Cabot — De  Mout  Castine — Harlow — Hunt — Capture 
of  the  Indians — Weymouth — Settlement  at  the  Kennebec — at  Wells,  La 
Tour — French  and  Indian  Wars — Character  of  the  natives. 
CHAPTER    II. 

NANRANTSOUAK,  OR  NORRIDGEWOCK. 

Description  of  the  Village — Jesuit  Missionaries — Briart  and  Masse — 
Dreuelettes — Bigot — Rasles — Arrival  at  Quebec — Preaches  to  the  Illi- 
nois— Stationed  at  Norridgewock — Life  among  the  Indians — War  with 
the  English — Destruction  of  the  Village — Death  of  Rasles — Character 
— Monument. 

CHAPTER    III. 
English  Grants  and  Land  Titles. 

King  James'  Grant  to  the  Plymouth  Council  —  Grant  to  the  Plym- 
outh Colony — Kennebec  purchase — Grant  of  Laconia    to  Georges — 
Sale  of  Maine  to  Massachusetts  —  McKetchnies'  Survey — Settlers  at 
Canaan  —  Farrington's  Survey  of  Norridgewock  —  Description. 
CHAPTER    IV. 
Settlement  of  Norridgewock. 

Character  of  the  Settlers  — 1772  —  Warren  explores  the  place  — 
1773  —  Warren,  Fletcher,  Wood,  Clark,  Farrington,  Crosby,  Wilson, 
Waugh,  McDonald,  Fling,  Brown,  Lamson  — 1774  —  Accident  —  Sev- 
enty lots  selected —  Revolutionary  War — 1776  —  Only  ten  Settlers  — 
1777  —  Clark  comes  with  his  wife  in  a  canoe  —  Gray  —  Martin  — 
Thompson  —  1778  — Spauldings  —  Paine  — 1780  —  Moores,  Witherell, 
Laughton,  Vickerie,  Richards,  Warren,  Tarbell,  Shed,  Withee,  Adams, 
Smith,  Nutting,  Thompson,  Patten — 1781  —  Longley,  Sampson, 
Witham,  Cook,  Pierce,  Gilman,  Farnsworth,  Kidder,  Rogers,  Lancas- 
ter, Heald,  Robbins. 

CHAPTER    V. 
General  Arnold's  Expedition. 

Arnold's  march  through  Norridgewock  —  Parlin's  Enlistment  and 
Captivity  —  Chase  taken  prisoner  —  Fear  of  the  Indians  —  Guard  — 
False  Alarm  —  Moose  hunt  —  Sufferings  of  hunters  —  Hardships  and 
Exposures  —  Death  of  Walton  and  Wood  —  Sufferings  of  Forbes  and 
family —  Condition  of  settlers  —  Taxes  —  Law-suits  —  Incorporation  of 
the  Town. 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTEK     VI. 
Organization  of  the  Town. 
Town  Officers  —  Petition  to  the  General  Court  —  Abatement  of  Tax- 
es—  Extracts  from  the  records  —  Meeting  House  —  Preaching — Rum 
at  the  raising  of  the  Meeting  House  —  Alterations  in  the  House  — 
Books  for  records  —  Early  settlers  —  Revolutionary  Pensioners. 
CHAPTER    VII. 
County  and  State  Officers. 
Organization  of  the  County  —  County  Officers  —  Embargo — War — 
High   Prices — Separation  of   the   State — Brunswick   Convention  — 
Portland  Convention  —  Gov.  King  —  Appointments  —  Sheriff —  Judge 
of  Probate  —  Register    of   Probate  —  Register    of   Deeds  —  Clerk    of 
Courts  —  Political    Parties  —  Federalists    and    Republicans  —  Whigs 
and  Democrats  —  Liberty  Party  —  Reformers — Free  Soil  Party — Votes 
for  Governor  —  Votes  for  President. 

CHAPTER  Vin. 
Town    Officers. 
Intemperance  —  Societies    for  Reform  —  Cold  Season  —  Sickness  — 
Division  of  the  Town  —  Freshet  —  Land  Speculation  —  Surplus  Reven- 
ue —  Political    Excitement  —  Population  —  Longevity  —  Finances  — 
Town  Officers  —  By-Laws. 

CHAPTER    IX, 
Roads    and    Bridges. 
Spotted  Line  —  New  Roads  —  Improvements  —  River  Road  —  Water- 
ville  Road  —  Belgrade  Road  —  Cob  urn  Road  —  Gilmore  Road  —  Mercer 
Road  —  Bridges  —  Toll  Bridge  —  Losses  to  the  Proprietors. 
CHAPTER    X. 
Description  of  Norridgewock. 
Beauty  of  the   Village  —  Public  Building— Court  House— Jail  — 
Meeting  Houses  —  Academy  —  Population  —  Agriculture  —  Mechanics 

—  Merchants  —  Professional  Men  —  Education  —  Benevolent  Societies. 

CHAPTER  XL 

Biographical  Sketches. 

James  Waugh—  James  Waugh,  Jr.,— John  Clark— Oliver  Wood  — 

Ephraim  Wood — Silas   Wood  —  Moriah  Gould  —  Rev.   Wm.  Paine  — 

Peter  Gilman — John  Ware  —  Richard  Sawtelle  —  William  Sylvester — 

Simon  Pierce  —  W.  W.  Dinsmore  —  Lawyers  —  Physicians —  Merchants 

—  Marriages. 

CHAPTER  XH. 
Ecclesiastical  History. 
General    Religious    Character  — Jesse   Lee  —  Methodist    Society  — 
Congregational  Church  —  Baptist  Churches  —  Free  Will  Baptist  Church 

—  Unitarians  —  Universalists  —  Remarks. 

APPENDIX. 
Correspondence  of  Sebastian  Rasles.  and  reminisences  of  Indian  Old 
Point. 


CHAPTER  I 


THE    ABORIGINES. 

Names,  Habits  of  the  Indians,  Various  Accounts  of  the  French 
and  English,  Policy  of  the  French  and  English  towards  the 
Indians,  Discoveries  and  Settlements  in  Maine,  Sebastian 
Cabot,  De  Mont,  Castine,  Harlow,  Hunt,  Capture  of  the  In- 
dians, Weymouth,  English  settle  at  the  Kennebeck,  at  Wells, 
La  Tour,  French  and  Indian  Wars,  Character  of  the  Natives. 

Norridgewock  is  an  Indian  name,  signifying 
smooth  water  between  the  rapids  or  falls ;  when 
the  place  was  first  discovered  by  the  Europeans, 
this  name  was  appropriated  by  the  natives  to  that 
portion  of  the  river  which  flows  through  the  town. 
The  Indians  had  distinct  names  for  different  por- 
tions of  the  Kennebeck.  From  the  source  of  Moose 
river,  one  of  the  longest  branches  of  the  Ken- 
nebeck, through  the  lake,  down  to  Norridgewock 
falls,  (a  short  distance  above  this  town,)  it  was 
by  them  called  Orantsoak.  This  name  was  given 
not  only  to  the  upper  part  of  the  river,  but  also  to 
Moosehead  Lake.  From  Norridgewock  falls  to 
Skowhegan  falls,  it  was  called  Nanrantsouak,  or 
Norridgewock.  From  Skowhegan  falls  to  Merry- 
meeting  bay,  the  river  received  the  name  of  Cana- 


10  THE    HISTORY    OF 

bais,  or  Kennebeck.  From  Merry  meeting  bay  to 
the  mouth  of  the  river,  it  was  called  Sagadahock. 

Some  of  the  early  settlers  were  accustomed  to 
call  this  place  Ridgewock;  others,  Myridgewock. 
When  the  town  was  incorporated,  an  effort  was 
made  to  abridge  the  name  of  Norridgewock,  on 
account  of  its  length,  but  the  Legislature  chose  to 
retain  the  original  name.  Norridgewock  is  pro- 
nounced, according  to  the  analogy  of  the  word  and 
the  custom  of  the  Indians,  with  the  accent  on  the 
second  syllable.  It  is  at  present  more  commonly 
pronounced  with  the  accent  on  the  first  syllable. 

The  tribe  of  the  natives  who  inhabited  the  val- 
ley of  the  Kennebeck,  was  known  by  the  names 
they  gave  to  the  river.  Originally,  they  were 
called  Canabais,  when  their  chief  resided  at  Swan 
Island,  in  Merrymeeting  bay ;  but  after  they  were 
driven  back  by  the  incursions  of  the  whites,  they 
made  Nanrantsouak  their  principal  place  of  resi- 
dence, and  were  then  called  the  Norridgewocks. 

This  beautiful  valley  was  once  the  haunt  of  the 
North  American  Indian,  in  the  rudest  and  most 
barbarous  state.  When  first  discovered  by  Euro- 
peans, the  Indians  of  Maine  had  no  knowledge  of 
the  use  of  iron,  or  metals  of  any  kind.  Instead  of 
a  hatchet  to  cut  their  wood,  they  made  use  of  a 
stone,  rudely  shaped  in  the  form  of  an  axe,  with  a 
wythe  for  a  handle.  Some  of  these  stone  axes  are 
still  preserved  as  curiosities.  They  had  no  bread 
nor  salt.  A  little  parched  corn,  a  few  dried  acorns, 
the  roots  of  vegetables,  small  twigs  and  bark  of 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  11 

trees ;  the  animals  of  the  forest  in  winter,  and  fish 
in  summer,  constituted  their  food.  Their  culinary 
utensils  were  made  of  birch  bark,  or  the  fibrous 
branches  and  roots  of  trees,  plaited  together  in  the 
form  of  a  basket.  They  cooked  their  salmon,  by 
filling  a  basket  with  water,  and  throwing  in  hot 
stones  to  make  it  boil.  Their  covering  was  the 
skins  of  the  wild  animals  they  captured.  They 
had  no  permanent  places  of  residence,  except  for 
the  aged  and  infirm,  but  roamed  from  place  to 
place,  penetrating  the  depths  of  the  forest  in  the 
winter,  and  descending  the  rivers  to  the  sea  shore 
in  the  summer,  roving  wherever  game  or  fish  could 
be  found.  The  aged  and  infirm  were  often  reduced 
to  a  state  of  starvation ;  and  always  suffered  great- 
ly during  the  winter,  in  their  rude  huts,  unprotected 
from  the  snow  and  cold  of  this  rigorous  climate- 
There  were  five  tribes  in  Maine,  when  first  dis- 
covered by  the  Europeans,  all  classed  under  the 
general  name  of  the  Abenaquis.  Of  these,  the 
Canabais,  afterwards  called  the  Norridgewocks, 
were  the  most  formidable  in  war.  The  Indians, 
though  united  in  their  hostility  to  the  English,  were 
yet  seldom  at  peace  among  themselves.  They 
loved  war,  and  cherishing  resentments  for  a  long 
time,  they  wreaked  their  cruel  vengeance  on  those 
who  had  offended  them;  and  thus,  neighboring 
tribes  seldom  lived  in  peace.  The  Eastern  Indians 
had,  for  several  years  prior  to  the  settlement  at  Ply- 
mouth, been  at  open  war  with  the  Massachusetts, 
which  continued  till  A.  D.  1632. 


12  THE    HISTORY   OF 

0 

The  embellished  accounts  given  by  the  Jesuit 
missionaries  and  the  French  historians,  of  the  In- 
dians of  Maine,  are,  at  first  view,  wholly  irrecon- 
cilable with  the  familiar  narratives  of  their  savage 
cruelties,  their  wanton  destruction  of  property,  and 
the  barbarous  murders  committed  on  our  infant 
settlements.  But  a  review  of  the  history  of  the 
rival  nations  of  Europe,  from  the  time  of  the  first 
discovery  of  the  coast  of  Maine,  in  1490,  until  the 
Indians  were  subdued  —  and  a  comparison  of  the 
policy  pursued  by  the  French  settlers  with  that  of 
the  English  colonists,  will  account  for  the  discrep- 
ancy in  the  statements.  The  English  writers  of 
that  day  describe  the  Indians  of  Maine  as  M  the 
very  outcasts  of  creation,  discovering  no  footsteps 
of  religion,  but  merely  diabolical,"  "  the  veriest 
ruins  of  mankind,"  "  the  most  sordid  and  contempt- 
ible part  of  the  human  species."  On  the  other 
hand,  the  French  Jesuits,  who  insinuated  themselves 
among  the  Indians  at  about  the  same  time,  describe 
them  as  "  docile  and  friendly,"  "  accessible  to  the 
precepts  of  religion,"  "  strong  in  their  attachments 
to  their  friends,  and  submissive  to  the  rites  and  cer- 
emonies of  the  Catholic  faith." 

The  policy  of  these  nations  toward  the  Indians 
was  as  different  as  the  estimate  they  placed  on  the 
character  of  the  natives.  The  first  Englishman 
that  discovered  the  Kennebeck  captured  some  of  the 
natives,  as  if  they  had  been  wild  beasts,  and  car- 
ried them  to  England,  for  a  show.  While,  within 
two    years  of    the  settlement  of    Quebec  by  the 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  13 

French,  and  before  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims  at 
Plymouth,  missionaries  were  sent  to  instruct  the 
Indians  in  Maine,  and  relieve  them  from  their 
wretchedness.  By  the  blandishments  peculiar  to 
the  French  nation,  the  Jesuit  missionaries  succeeded 
effectually  in  winning  the  natives  to  the  interest  of 
France,  and  maintained  undisturbed  their  estab- 
lishment among  them  for  many  years.  The  policy 
of  the  French  agents  and  settlers  towards  the  na- 
tives, was  conciliatory.  By  adopting  their  habits 
and  manner  of  life  —  by  supplying  their  wants  and 
relieving  them  essentially  from  their  wretchedness 
—  furnishing  them  with  knives,  hatchets,  and  other 
instruments,  the  French  were  always  regarded  by 
the  natives  as  their  best  friends.  The  friendship 
of  the  Indians  was  retained  by  the  French,  who 
adopted  the  habits  of  the  natives,  accompanying 
them  in  their  hunting  and  fishing  expeditions,  in 
time  of  peace,  and  being  the  leaders  of  their  pred- 
atory excursions,  in  time  of  war.  By  intermar- 
riages between  the  French  settlers  and  the  natives, 
often  with  families  of  the  chiefs,  their  interests  were 
identified.  The  imposing  ceremonies  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church  had  especial  charms  for  the  sava- 
ges, and  they  received,  with  implicit  confidence,  all 
the  instructions  of  the  priests ;  and  thus  the  power- 
ful influences  of  Religion  bound  the  natives  strong- 
ly to  the  interests  of  France. 

The  English,  on  the  other  hand,  attempted  to 
exercise  their  authority  over  the  Indians  by  force 
of   arms ;    and,  although  the  government  enjoined 
2* 


14  THE   HISTORY   OF 

m 

mild  measures,  their  instructions  were  not  obeyed. 
In  many  cases,  the  rights  of  unoffending  natives 
were  invaded  by  unprincipled  adventurers,  who 
acted  from  the  depraved  maxim,  that  "  it  was  no 
sin  to  cheat  an  Indian."  Cheated  in  trade,  their 
lands  occupied  by  the  settlers,  and  even  their  per- 
sons sometimes  forcibly  seized  and  carried  off,  to  be 
exhibited  for  a  show  in  England,  or  to  be  sold  into 
slavery  in  Spain  —  we  cannot  wonder  that  the  In- 
dians should  regard  the  English  with  unrelenting 
hatred.  Smarting  under  such  personal  injuries,  the 
prejudices  of  the  savages  were  inflamed  by  the 
artifice  of  their  Jesuit  priests,  who  taught  them 
to  consider  the  English  as  heretics,  that  ought  to  be 
exterminated. 

The  English  settlers  looked  upon  the  aborigines 
as  heathen  of  the  most  degraded  character,  "  vessels 
of  wrath  fitted  for  destruction,"  and  believed  it  to 
be  the  duty  of  the  government  to  exterminate  the 
whole  race.  With  such  views  and  feelings,  provo- 
cations would  necessarily  arise,  and  the  savages 
wreaked  their  vengeance  indiscriminately  on  the 
settlements  of  their  foes.  The  depredations  and 
murders  committed  on  these  occasions  were  some- 
times retaliated,  with  the  same  spirit  of  cruelty  and 
revenge.  In  one  case,  to  retaliate  for  a  murder 
committed  by  the  Indians  at  Richmond  Island,  the 
English  hanged  the  first  Indian  they  caught,  al- 
though he  was  entirely  innocent  of  the  murder, 
and  had  committed  no  offence. 

The  Indian  character  must  have  appeared  to  the 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  15 

French  widely  different  from  the  exhibitions  of 
savage  nature,  to  which  the  English  colonies  were 
exposed.  One  party  regarded  the  natives  as  friend- 
ly allies,  whose  sufferings  they  should  alleviate, 
and  whose  character  had  many  noble  traits  and  ex- 
cellencies. The  other  party  looked  upon  them  as 
bloody,  merciless  and  degraded  foes,  without  any 
redeeming  qualities. 

The  national  enmity,  that  for  a  long  period  had 
existed  between  France  and  England,  was  often 
demonstrated  in  open  hostility  and  war.  The 
grasping  of  each  nation  to  secure  as  large  a  portion 
of  the  new  world  as  possible;  their  interfering 
claims  to  the  title  and  jurisdiction  of  this  country  ; 
the  grants  of  the  same  portions  of  the  territory  to 
different  companies,  by  the  two  governments,  often 
indefinite  in  their  limits,  and  conflicting  with  pre- 
vious grants  and  Indian  deeds,  and  the  base  cupid- 
ity of  individual  adventurers,  were  the  causes  of 
constant  hostility  between  the  French  and  English 
colonies.  To  follow  out  a  detailed  account  of  the 
Indian  murders  and  the  startling  events  that  took 
place,  from  the  time  of  the  first  discovery  of  Maine 
by  the  Europeans,  until  the  Indians  were  finally 
subdued  at  Lovell's  fight  at  Pickwacket,  and  the 
destruction  of  the  Indian  village  at  Norridgewock 
in  1724,  would  exceed  the  limits  intended  in  this 
history,  and  would  be  but  a  repetition  of  the 
accounts  of  Indian  massacres  with  which  all  in 
New  England  have  been  familiar  from  childhood. 
A  chronological  list  of  the  most  important  events 


16  THE    HISTORY   OF 

relating  to  the  settlement  of  this  State  by  the  Eu- 
ropeans, and  their  intercourse  with  the  natives,  is 
given. 

In  1497,  Sebastian  Cabot,  an  English  navigator, 
discovered  and  coasted  along  the  eastern  part  of  the 
shores  of  Maine,  and  hence  the  English  govern- 
ment claimed,  for  more  than  a  century,  the  sole 
jurisdiction  of  the  country,  although  no  attempt 
was  made  by  them  to  effect  a  settlement  until  1607. 
The  right  of  discovery  was  considered  by  the 
European  nations  as  a  valid  claim  to  all  the  lands 
occupied  by  savages.  In  1600,  the  French  took 
possession  of  the  Eastern  part  of  Maine,  built  fish- 
ing huts,  and  traded  with  the  natives.  The  French 
government  from  this  time  claimed  jurisdiction  of 
the  territory  of  Maine,  under  the  name  of  Acadia, 
which  extended  as  far  west  as  the  Hudson  river. 
In  1603,  De  Mont  obtained  a  grant  of  the  eastern 
part  of  the  State,  and  the  next  year  he  erected  a 
cabin  at  Schoodiac.  In  the  year  previous  to  De 
Mont's  grant,  the  territory  upon  the  Penobscot  was 
given  to  Madame  Generchelle,  a  French  lady,  and 
soon  after  a  number  of  her  countrymen  established 
themselves  as  settlers  at  that  place.  These  settlers 
adopted  the  habits  of  the  natives,  pleased  with  sav- 
age society  they  selected  Indian  wives,  and  devoted 
themselves  to  the  excitement  of  the  chase  and  the 
camp.  Degraded  by  their  association  and  manner 
of  life,  they  were  bigoted  Roman  Catholics,  servile 
to  the  dictates  of  Jesuit  priests.  In  1607,  De  Mont, 
who  had  settled  at  Schoodiac,  proceeded  as  far  as 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  17 

the  Kennebeck,  on  a  trading  expedition,  purchasing 
furs  of  the  Indians.  Here  he  erected  a  cross,  and 
thus  took  possession  of  the  country. 

In  1608,  Quebec  was  settled  by  the  French,  which 
became  the  head  quarters  of  all  the  settlers  in  Aca- 
dia. From  this  place  Jesuit  missionaries  were  sent 
to  Maine,  to  visit  the  French  settlements,  and  in- 
struct the  natives.  Baron  Castine  erected  a  fort  or 
trading  house  at  Castine,  about  the  time  of  the 
settlement  of  Quebec.  He  married  the  daughter  of 
an  Indian  chief.  By  his  traffic  with  the  Indians, 
he  became  immensely  rich,  and  acquired  an  un- 
bounded influence  over  the  natives.  Castine,  the 
younger,  a  son  of  the  Baron  by  his  Indian  wife, 
succeeded  to  his  estates  and  the  control  over  the 
savages. 

While  the  French  were  thus  extending  their  set- 
tlements, and  ingratiating  themselves  into  the  favor 
of  the  natives,  the  English  were  not  entirely  un- 
mindful of  their  claim,  by  the  discovery  of  Cabot, 
to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  territory.  Voyages  of 
discovery  were  made,  and  traffic  with  the  Indians 
was  sought.  But  a  far  different  polioy  than  that 
which  the  French  had  pursued,  marked  the  inter^ 
course  between  the  English  and  the  natives. 

In  1602,  Capt.  Harlow  seised  two  Indians  at  the 
Kennebeck,  and  three  more  near  Cape  Cod,  whom 
he  carried  to  England.  One  of  these  captives 
found  means  to  return  to  his  native  land,  two  years 
afterwards.  He  pretended  that  he  could  discover 
to  his  captors  a  mine  of  silver,  and  they  eagerly 


18  THE    HISTORY   OF 

accepted  his  proposal  to  act  as  their  'guide  to  this 
hidden  treasure.  But  when  the  vessel  arrived  near 
Martha's  Vineyard,  he  jumped  overboard  and  swam 
on  shore,  leaving  'the  English  to  their  disappoint- 
ment. The  knowledge  this  savage  had  acquired, 
gave  him  an  influence  among  his  people.  He  be- 
came a  leader  of  a  party  of  his  tribe,  and  was  ever 
afterwards  the  inveterate  foe  of  the  English,  against 
whom  he  had  such  cause  of  enmity.  In  1604, 
Capt.  Smith  visited  the  Kennebeck  for  the  purpose 
of  discovery  and  trade  with  the  natives.  About 
the  same  time,  Capt.  Hunt,  near  the  Kennebeck, 
enticed  twenty  of  the  Indians  on  board  of  his  ves- 
sel, and  then  set  sail.  This  infamous  man-stealer 
carried  the  prisoners  he  had  kidnapped  to  Spain, 
where  he  sold  them  for  slaves. 

In  1605,  Capt.  Weymouth  discovered  and  sailed 
up  the  Kennebeck  river.  He  also  captured  five 
of  the  " salvages"  and  carried  them  to  England. 
He  describes  them,  tl  like  all  that  sort,  kind  till  they 
had  an  opportunity  to  do  mischief," — which,  we 
may  imagine,  was  the  opinion  the  natives  enter- 
tained of  him  and  his  people. 

The  first  attempt  at  a  settlement  made  by  the 
English,  was  in  1607,  when  Thomas  Popham  built 
a  fort  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kennebeck,  erected  sev- 
eral small  dwelling  houses,  and  left  families  in  them 
to  winter  there.  The  Indians  were  at  first  friend- 
ly, but  some  disputes  arose  between  them  and  the 
whites  during  the  winter.  The  settlers  suffered 
much  from  cold  and  privation ;    their  store-house 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  19 

was  burnt,  and  they  were  seriously  annoyed  by 
the  natives.  The  next  spring,  the  discouraged  set- 
tlers abandoned  the  place,  and  returned  to  England, 
giving  no  very  favorable  account  of  the  country, 
or  its  inhabitants. 

In  1623,  a  grant  of  Lyconia,  which  included  all 
the  territory  of  Maine  lying  west  of  the  Kennebeck, 
was  made  to  Richard  Vinne  and  Thomas  Oldham, 
and  soon  after,  settlements  were  made  in  the  county 
of  York.  King  Charles  the  Second,  in  1625,  ceded 
to  France,  Acadia,  without  defining  its  limits ;  but 
it  was  understood  to  include  all  of  Maine,  east  of 
the  Kennebeck.  Soon  after  this,  the  Plymouth 
Company  obtained  a  grant  of  lands  lying  upon  the 
Kennebeck,  and  settlements  began  to  be  made  at 
different  points.  Prior  to  the  year  1634,  the  English 
had  created  fort  Popham,  at  Arrowsick  ;  fort  Rich- 
mond, near  Swan  Island,  was  built  in  1719;  fort 
Weston,  in  1754,  at  Cushnoc,  now  Augusta ;  fort 
Halifax,  at  Ticonic,  now  Waterville,  in  1755. 

In  1650,  La  Tour,  who  had  maintained  under 
the  French  government  an  establishment  upon  the 
coast  of  Maine,  furnished  the  Indians  with  guns 
and  ammunition.  It  had  been  the  policy  of  the 
English,  previous  to  this  time,  to  withhold  warlike 
implements^  from  the  natives;  but  afterwards,  the 
savages  found  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  a  full  sup- 
ply, which  they  generally  purchased  of  the  French 
traders.  In  1666,  there  was  war  between  France 
and  England.  The  Eastern  Indians  enlisted  with 
the  French,    and  their  warriors  spread   desolation 


20  THE   HISTORY   OF 

throughout  all  the  frontier  settlements.  The  Nor- 
ridgewocks  were  the  principal  actors  in  the  des- 
truction of  Deerfield  and  Hatfield  in  Massachusetts. 
Called  upon  by  the  French  Governor,  they  mus- 
tered at  Quebec,  and  made  their  route  by  way  of 
Montreal,  and  returned  laden  with  plunder  and 
captives,  exhibiting  the  scalps  of  the  English, 
frightful  trophies  of  their  valor  and  barbarity. 

In  1675,  occurred  king  Philip's  war.  This 
savage  chieftain,  perceiving  the  encroachments  of 
ihe  English  settlers,  rallied  the  native  tribes  to 
sweep,  with  a  general  destruction,  the  invaders 
from  their  soil.  But  they  were  defeated,  and  their 
power  was  broken.  After  the  war,  most  of  the 
Massachusetts  and  Narraganset  Indians  joined  the 
Eastern  Indians,  or  sought  refuge  in  Canada, 
whence  they  continued  to  harass  the  frontier  settle- 
ments of  New  England,  until  the  final  overthrow 
of  the  French  in  Canada. 

In  1689,  war  was  declared  between  England  and 
France,  which  continued  eight  years.  The  open- 
ing of  hostilities  was  signalized  by  several  success- 
ful expeditions  of  the  French  and  Indians.  The 
settlement  at  Salmon  Falls,  Berwick,  was  destroyed 
by  the  savages  in  1690,  as  well  as  the  settlement  at 
Casco  Bay.  In  these  predatory  excursions,  the 
Norridgewocks  appeared  to  be  the  prominent  actors. 

In  1702,  war  was  again  declared,  and  although 
the  tribes  had  assented  to  a  treaty  of  peace  with 
England,  through  the  influence  of  the  French,  they 
broke  this  treaty  in  seven  weeks  after  it  had  been 


NORRIDGEWOCK. 


21 


ratified.  The  same  day  the  whole  frontier  of  the 
English  settlements,  from  Casco  to  Wells,  was 
devoted  to  the  flames,  and  the  inhabitants  to  the 
tomahawk  and  scalping  knife  of  the  merciless  sav- 
age. Not  content  with  this  destruction,  the  Eastern 
Indians  afterwards  penetrated  into  Massachusetts, 
as  far  as  Ipswich.  In  these  expeditions  they  were 
accompanied  by  the  French,  who  made  no  effort  to 
restrain  their  barbarous  allies,  in  the  cruelties  they 
practiced  upon  our  infant  settlements  for  twelve 
years,  when  peace  took  place  in  1713. 

In  1744,  war  broke  out  again  between  England 
and  France,  which  was  terminated  by  the  treaty 
of  Aix  la  Chapelle.  But  by  this  time  the  power 
of  the  Eastern  Indians  was  dissipated,  and  we  hear 
of  but  little  mischief  that  was  done  by  them  upon 
the  settlements  of  the  whites. 

By  this  brief  review  of  the  history  of  our  State, 
and  the  wars  with  the  French  and  Indians,  we 
may  be  better  prepared  to  reconcile  the  conflicting 
statements  concerning  the  Indian  character. 

Jealous  and  resentful,  they  brooded  over  an  insult 
or  an  injury,  until  opportunity  offered  to  wreak  their 
vengeance  on  their  foes,  and  then  they  were  cruel  in 
their  revenge.  Impatient  of  labor,  and  improvi- 
dent for  the  future,  they  but  half  cultivated  the 
fields,  where  they  planted  their  corn,  feasted  upon 
the  provisions  they  chanced  to  have,  until  they 
were  wasted,  and  spent  their  time  in  indolence, 
when  not  driven  by  hunger  to  seek  sustenance. 
They  loved  the  excitement  of  the  chase,  and  were 
3 


C&  THE   HISTORY    OF    NORRIDGEWOCK. 

practiced  in  stratagems,  in  time  of  war.  By  their 
intercourse  with  the  whites,  they  were  more  degrad- 
ed; for  they  copied  their  vicious  habits,  without 
imitating  their  virtues.  Yet  there  were  some  noble 
traits  of  character,  that  gleamed  forth  in  the  moral 
darkness.  Faithful  in  their  friendship,  they  were 
not  ungrateful  for  favors  they  had  received.  They 
often  gave  utterance  to  noble  sentiments,  with  rude 
eloquence,  in  the  deliberations  of  their  own  coun- 
cils, or  in  their  conferences  with  other  nations. 

Our  ancestors  undoubtedly  imbibed  unwarranta- 
ble prejudices  against  the  Indians,  and  we  may  not 
be  able  to  do  them  justice.  Their  vicious  deeds 
still  dwell  upon  the  memory,  and  cloud  the  pages 
of  history.  If  their  deeds  of  rapine  and  murder 
were  occasioned  by  the  inveterate  hostility  of 
Christian  nations,  and  by  the  artful  emissaries  of  a 
foreign  foe,  they  are  to  be  pitied  rather  than 
blamed. 


CHAPTER   II 


NANRANTSOUAK  OR  NORRIDGEWOCK. 

Description  of  the  Village,  Jesuit  Missionaries,  Briart  and  Masse 
Druellettes,  Bigots,  Rasles'  Arrival  among  the  Indians. 
Preaches  among  the  Illinois,  Stationed  at  Norridgewock,  Life 
among  the  Indians,  War  with  the  English,  Destruction  of  the 
Village,  Death  of  Rasle,  Character,  Monument. 

"  Through  the  chapel's  narrow  doors, 

And  through  each  window  in  the  walls, 
Round  the  priest  and  warrior  pours 

The  deadly  shower  of  English  balls ; 

Low  on  his  cross  the  Jesuit  falls ; 
While  at  his  side,  the  Norridgewock, 
With  failing  breath,  essays  to  mock 
And  menace  yet,  the  hated  foe , 
Shakes  his  scalp  trophies  to  and  fro, 

Exultingly  before  their  eyes ; 
Till  cleft  and  torn  by  shot  and  blow, 

Defiant  still  — he  dies."  —  /.  G.  Whittier. 

It  has  been  often  remarked,  that  the  Indians, 
however  degraded  in  their  native  state,  displayed 
much  taste  and  judgment  in  selecting  the  most  eli- 
gible situations  for  their  encampments  and  villages. 
Every   spot  where  they  attempted  to  establish  a 


24  THE    HISTORY    OF 

permanent  place  of  residence  for  their  women  and 
children  was  distinguished  by  the  beauty  of  the 
surrounding  scenery.  But  none  of  their  encamp- 
ments presented  more  attractions  than  "Old  Point," 
where  the  Village  of  Nanrantsouak  was  situated. 
The  Kennebeck,  sweeping  southward  in  its  course 
about  one  hundred  rods  below  the  site  of  the  vil- 
lage, receives  the  waters  of  the  Sandy  River  from 
the  west,  then  turning  with  a  short  curve,  runs 
eastward  for  about  one  hundred  rods,  and  then  in  a 
north-east  direction  for  half  a  mile ;  thus  forming  a 
neck  of  land,  containing  nearly  an  hundred  acres 
of  intervale,  including  the  elevated  part  where  the 
village  once  stood.  The  site  of  the  village  was 
about  twelve  feet  above  the  intervale,  which  lay  to 
the  south  and  east.  A  street  or  pathway,  eight 
feet  wide,  settled  about  eight  inches  below  the  sur- 
face of  the  plain,  and  made  perfectly  smooth,  was 
laid  out  in  a  straight  line  for  half  a  mile,  not  far 
distant  from  the  river,  and  parallel  with  the  bank, 
The  wigwams  or  huts  were  built  on  each  side  of 
this  street.  The  church  was  originally  constructed 
of  branches,  and  covered  with  bark  of  the  fir  tree  \ 
but  it  was  afterwards  rebuilt,  with  hewn  timber, 
This  edifice,  surmounted  with  a  cross,  stood  a  little 
back  from  the  street,  at  the  lower  end  of  the  viU 
Jage.  Near  the  upper  end  of  the  village,  a  beautU 
ful  spring  of  water  gushed  forth  from  the  bank  of 
the  river. 

This  was  the  most  eligible  situation  in  the  State, 
for  the  Indians,  in  their  mode  of  living.     They 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  25 

could  raise  their  corn  on  the  intervale  below  the 
village ;  and  the  fertile  intervales  of  the  Sandy- 
River,  opposite  "  Old  Point,"  were  also  cultivated 
by  their  squaws.  The  falls,  two  miles  above  the 
village,  was  one  of  the  best  fishing  places  on  the 
river,  which  abounded  with  salmon,  shad  and  ale- 
wives,  before  the  fish  were  driven  away  by  the 
mills,  dams  and  obstructions  of  the  white  man. 

Whittier,    in   his  poem  of  "  Mog  Megone,"  de- 
scribes the  scenery  around  the  village,  as  follows  : 

'T  is  morning  over  Norridgewock ! 
On  tree  and  wigwam,  wave  and  rock, 
Bathed  in  the  autumnal  sunshine,  stirred 
At  intervals  by  breeze  and  bird, 
And  wearing  all  the  hues,  that  glow 
In  heaven's  own  pure  and  perfect  bow, 

That  glorious  picture  of  the  air, 
Which  summer's  light-robed  angel  forms 
On  the  dark  ground  of  fading  storms, 

With  pencil  dipped  in  sunbeams  there  — 
And  stretching  out  on  either  hand, 
O'er  all  that  wide  and  unshorn  land, 

Till,  weary  of  its  gorgeousness, 
The  aching  and  the  dazzled  eye 
Rests  gladdened  on  the  calm  blue  sky 

Slumbers  the  mighty  wilderness  ! 
The  oak  upon  the  windy  hill, 
Its  dark  green  burthen  upward  heaves, 
The  hemlock  broods  above  its  rill, 
Its  cone-like  foliage  darker  still ; 

While  the  white  birch's  graceful  stem 
And  the  rough  beechen  bough  receives 
The  sunlight  on  their  crowded  leaves, 
3* 


26  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Each  colored  like  a  topaz  gem ; 
And  the  tall  maple  wears  with  them 
The  coronal  which  Autumn  gives, 
The  brief  bright  sign  of  ruin  near, 
The  hectic  of  a  dying  year. 
######         *        # 

On  the  brow  of  the  hill,  that  slopes  to  meet 
The  flowing  river,  and  bathe  its  feet, 
The  bare  washed  rock,  and  the  drooping  grass, 
And  the  creeping  vine,  as  the  waters  pass ; 
A  rude  and  unshapely  chapel  stands, 
Built  up  in  that  wild  by  unskilled  hands, 
Yet  the  traveller  knows  it  a  house  of  prayer, 
For  the  sign  of  the  holy  cross  is  there. 

And  should  he  chance  at  that  place  to  be, 
Of  a  Sabbath  morn,  or  some  hallowed  day, 
When  prayers  are  made,  and  masses  are  said, 
Some  for  the  living,  and  some  for  the  dead ; 

Well  might  that  traveller  start  to  see 
The  tall,  dark  forms,  that  take  their  way 
From  the  birch  canoe  on  the  river  shore, 
And  the  forest  paths,  to  that  chapel  door. 

Marvel  to  mark  the  naked  knees, 
And  the  dusky  foreheads  bending  there, 

While  in  coarse  white  vesture,  over  these, 
In  blessing  or  in  prayer, 
Stretching  abroad  his  thin,  pale  hands, 
Like  a  shrouded  ghost,  the  Jesuit  stands. 

The  powerful  tribe  of  Indians  who  made  their 
principal  encampment  at  this  beautiful  place,  were 
early  visited  by  French  missionaries,  from  Quebec. 
We  learn  from  Governor  Lincoln's  *  manuscripts, 

*  Enoch  Lincoln,  the  late  Governor  of  Maine,  was  enthusias- 
tic in  his  researches  of  all  that  related  to  the  history  of  the  In- 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  27 

that  in  the  year  1610,  two  Jesuits,  Biart  and  Masse, 
visited  the  eastern  part  of  Maine.  Biart  proceeded 
along  the  coast  as  far  as  the  Canabais,  or  Kenne- 
beck,  and  introduced  the  light  and  knowledge  of 
his  religious  doctrines  to  the  natives.  They  were  so 
much  pleased  with  the  specimen  he  furnished  them, 
of  the  excellency  of  his  religion,  that  they  immedi- 
ately despatched  messengers  to  the  Governor  of 
Canada,  for  a  teacher  of  the  same  faith  to  come 
and  reside  among  them.  Gabriel  Dreuellettes  was 
appointed,  and  was  the  first  Roman  Catholic  mis- 
sionary regularly  settled  in  the  wilderness  of  the 
Kennebeck.  He  was  a  distinguished  and  well 
educated  Jesuit,  and,  by  his  eloquence,  he  extended 
far  and  wide,  to  use  the  language  of  the  Roman 
Catholics,  "the  glory  and  kingdom  of  God." 

In  1646,  he  built  a  rude  chapel  at  "Old  Point.-" 
This  missionary  station  was  sustained  by  him  and 
his  successors  of  that  order  for  many  years.  In  the 
French  war  of  1674,  the  chapel  was  burned  by 
English  hunters.  But  on  the  return  of  peace,  rep- 
aration was  made  by  the  government  of  Massachu- 
setts, according  to  the  stipulations  of  the  treaty. 
Where  the  rude  chapel  stood,  a  new  church  of  hewn 
timber,  was  erected  by  workmen  sent  from  Boston. 

Dreuellettes  was  succeeded  in  his  missionary  la- 
bors among  the  Indians  of  Maine,  by  the  brothers, 

dians  of  Maine.  He  left  some  manuscripts  relating  to  the  first 
Jesuit  missionaries,  drawn  up  in  glowing  terms.  These  were 
published,  after  his  death,  in  the  Collection  of  the  Maine  His- 
torical Society. 


28  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Vincent  and  Jacques  Bigot,  of  the  family  of  Baron 
Bigot,  in  France.  Vincent  is  represented  as  living 
with  more  than  patriarchal  simplicity  among  the 
Indians.  He  inspired  them  with  zeal  for  their  relig- 
ion, and  mode  of  worship.  His  domicil  was  a  rude 
cabin  of  bark;  his  bed,  a  bearskin  spread  upon  the 
earth ;  and  his  food,  the  coarse  fare  of  the  natives. 
It  is  supposed  that  Jacques  Bigot  remained  at  Nor- 
ridgewock,  till  the  arrival  of  Rasles. 

Sebastian  Rasles,  (or  Ralle,)  a  man  of  good  sense, 
sound  learning,  and  pleasing  address,  belonging  to 
a  respectable  family  in  France,  was  appointed  a 
missionary  to  this  station.  An  enthusiast  for  his 
religion,  he  consented  to  relinquish  the  comforts  of 
civilized  life,  the  endearments  of  home,  and  the 
pleasures  of  refined  and  polished  society,  to  live 
with  the  Indians  in  their  rude  huts,  for  thirty-five 
years,  in  the  wilds  of  the  Kennebeck.  From  his 
letters1*  to  his  brother  and  nephew,  we  learn  that 
in  the  summer  of  1689,  he  embarked  at  Rochelle, 
and  after  a  pleasant  voyage  of  three  months,  arriv- 
ed in  Quebec.  Having  applied  himself  diligently 
to  the  study  of  the  Indian  language,  his  first  sta- 
tion was  in  a  village  of  the  Abenaquis  nation. 
Here  he  found  about  two  hundred  natives,  most  of 
them  professing  to  be  Christians.  After  living  two 
years  in  this  village,  he  received  an  order  from  his 
superiors  to  go  to  the  Illinois,  who  had  lost  their 
missionary.     It  was  a  difficult  and  perilous  journey, 

*  See  Rasles'  letters  to  his  nephew  and  brother  in  the  A  ppendix . 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  29 

but  he  immediately  commenced  his  preparation, 
and  in  August,  1691,  he  started  in  a  canoe,  to  go 
"more  than  eight  hundred  leagues;"  traversing  the 
vast  lakes,  he  and  his  companions  landed  every 
evening,  and  considered  themselves  fortunate  if 
they  could  find  some  flat  rock  on  which  to  pass  the 
night.  Their  only  shelter  when  it  rained,  was  the 
canoe  turned  bottom  upwards.  They  encountered 
still  greater  risks,  when  in  their  frail  birch  bark 
canoes,  they  passed  down  the  rapids  in  the  rivers. 
Their  frail  boats  were  liable  to  be  dashed  into  a 
thousand  pieces,  if  they  struck  upon  the  rocks  in 
these  rapids.  Suffering  from  hunger  whenever 
game  became  deficient,  they  lived  upon  the  lichens 
or  '  '•rock  tripe"  which  furnished  them  with  a  miser- 
able sustenance.  But  at  length  they  reached  their 
place  of  destination. 

Here  he  remained  preaching  for  two  years,  and 
was  again  recalled  by  his  superior,  sent  once  more 
to  labor  among  the  Abenaquis,  and  was  appointed 
to  the  station  at  Nanrantsouak,  Here  he  found  a 
convenient  church,  erected  of  hewn  timber,  highly 
decorated,  ornamented  and  embellished  with  paint- 
ings, with  a  set  of  silver  plate  for  sacramental  uses, 
and  a  large  number  of  converts.  All  were  ready 
to  receive  him  &s  their  spiritual  guide.  Those  who, 
had  not  been  enrolled  on  the  register  of  the  church, 
having  been  put  on  probation  a  proper  time,  after 
receiving  suitable  instruction,  were  admitted  and 
baptized.  He  trained  from  thirty  to  forty  young 
Indians,  neophytes,  to  assist  him  in  performing  re-* 


30  THE    HISTORY    OF 

ligious  services.  He  obtained  for  them  surplices 
and  other  suitable  dresses  and  insignia,  in  which 
to  perform  their  acts  of  worship. 

Two  chapels  were  erected,  one  at  the  upper  part 
of  the  village,  and  the  other  below,  in  which  they 
assembled,  morning  and  evening,  for  singing  and 
prayer.  The  design  in  having  these  chapels  at  the 
two  extremes  of  the  village  was,  that  the  Indians 
might  be  reminded  of  their  duty  in  passing  them, 
whenever  they  left  their  village  on  their  hunting 
and  fishing  excursions.  He  says  his  young  Indians 
sung  most  delightfully,  and  no  persons  could  be 
more  circumspect  and  devout  than  were  the  natives 
in  their  religious  duties.  In  a  manuscript  of  Ras- 
les',  preserved  in  the  library  of  Harvard  College, 
he  says,  u  Here  I  am,  in  a  cabin  in  the  woods,  in 
which  I  find  both  crosses  and  religious  observances, 
among  the  Indians.  At  the  dawn  of  the  morning, 
I  say  mass  in  the  chapel,  made  of  the  branches  of 
the  fir  tree.  The  residue  of  the  day  I  spend  in 
visiting  and  consoling  the  savages ;  a  severe  afflic- 
tion to  see  so  many  famished  persons,  without  being 
able  to  relieve  their  hunger." 

The  game  had  become  so  scarce  in  this  country, 
that  for  many  years  the  Indians  found  but  few 
moose  or  deer.  The  bears  and  beavers  had  also 
become  very  rare.  Their  principal  food  was  Indian 
corn,  beans  and  pumpkins. 

They  prepared  their  corn,  by  grinding  it  between 
two  stones  into  a  coarse  hommony,  which  they  often 
seasoned  with  fat,  or  with  dried  fish.     When  the 


NORRIDGEWOCK,  31 

corn  failed,  they  sought  for  acorns  or  ground  nuts. 
Rasles  found  the  most  difficulty  in  reconciling  him- 
self to  the  cookery  of  the  natives.  They  perceived 
his  repugnance,  and  thought  it  strange,  when  they 
had  learned  to  pray  as  he  did,  that  he  could  not 
learn  to  eat  as  the  Indians.  Yet  their  habits  and 
food  were  so  disgusting,  that  he  preferred  to  prepare 
his  own  food,  in  his  lodge ;  often  living  upon  a  few 
kernels  of  parched  corn,  or  a  few  acorns.  The 
Indians  were  always  anxious  to  have  him  go  with 
them  in  their  fishing  excursions,  and  would  make 
use  of  much  etiquette  to  persuade  him  to  accom- 
pany them.  They  would  choose  a  committee,  to 
confer  with  him  in  the  most  diplomatic  manner,  in- 
forming him  that  their  young  men  were  about  to  go 
to  catch  fish  and  ducks,  that  it  would  be  hard  for 
them  to  abandon  their  Prayer,  and  that  they  should 
be  happy  if  he  were  with  them,  so  that  they  should 
not  interrupt  their  devotions.  His  answers  were 
framed  in  the  same  style.  Instead  of  a  direct  con- 
sent, he  would  reply,  that  he  was  always  pleased 
when  he  could  make  his  children  happy.  They 
would  then  express  the  most  enthusiastic  joy  at  the 
result  of  their  talk.  Every  facility  in  their  power 
was  cheerfully  afforded  by  them,  that  their  devo- 
tions might  not  be  interrupted.  They  carried  with 
them  their  chapel  furniture,  and  a  board  about  four 
feet  long,  which,  with  the  necessary  supports, 
served  for  an  altar.  On  arriving  at  their  place  of 
encampment,  the  first  thing  was  to  erect  a  tent  for 
their  chapel,  which  was  hung  with  silks  and  beau- 


32  THE    HISTORY    OF 

tiful  cloths,  and  carpeted  with  mats  and  bear  skins. 
The  altar  was  here  erected,  and  divine  service  was 
performed  as  in  the  church. 

Rasles  did  not  confine  himself  to  the  spiritual 
functions  of  his  ministry.  He  had  to  act  often- 
times as  an  umpire  in  settling  their  little  differences, 
and  as  a  physician,  in  ministering  to  their  wants 
when  sick.  But  one  of  the  most  important  offices 
he  sustained,  was  that  of  agent  for  the  French 
Governor  in  Quebec.  As  the  English  settlements 
were  much  more  convenient  of  access  to  the  In- 
dians, for  the  purpose  of  barter,  fears  were  enter- 
tained that  the  natives  would  be  detached  from 
their  alliance  with  the  French.  The  strongest  tie 
that  bound  them  was  their  religion;  and  the  Jesuit 
took  good  care  to  assure  them,  that  "If  they  gave 
themselves  up  to  the  English,  they  would  soon  be 
without  a  missionary,  without  a  sacrifice,  without 
a  sacrament,  and  without  any  exercise  of  religion." 
Thus  taught  to  regard  the  English  as  enemies  of 
religion,  we  need  not  wonder  that  the  natives  per- 
sisted in  refusing  every  allurement  held  out  to  in- 
duce them  to  forsake  their  old  allies,  and  come  over 
to  the  interests  of  those  whom  their  spiritual  dicta- 
tor regarded  as  heretics,  with  whom  no  faith  should 
be  kept. 

About  the  commencement  of  the  war  between 
France  and  England,  in  1702,  Governor  Dudley 
sought  an  interview  with  the  Eastern  Indians,  to 
induce  them  to  remain  at  peace.  The  council 
assembled  at  Casco,  on  the  20th  of  June,  1703,     A 


NOKRTDGEWOCK. 


33 


full  deputation  from  most  of  the  Indian  tribes  in 
this  State  was  present.  Rasles  accompanied  the 
Norridgewocks,  to  assist  them  in  their  consultation, 
hear  the  propositions  that  might  be  made  by  the 
Governor,  and  to  take  care  that  no  answers  should 
be  returned  by  the  natives,  contrary  to  their  relig- 
ion or  the  interest  of  the  French.  He  did  not  in- 
tend to  appear  before  the  Governor,  or  that  the 
English  should  know  that  he  was  with  the  Indians. 
As  they  approached  the  fort,  they  were  saluted  by 
the  English  with  a  discharge  of  the  cannon  of  the 
fort,  to  which  the  two  hundred  canoes  of  the  sav- 
ages responded  by  a  discharge  of  all  their  guns. 
Immediately  on  the  appearance  of  the  Governor, 
the  Indians  hastily  landed,  and  Rasles  found  him- 
self in  the  presence  of  those  from  whom  he  had 
intended  to  be  concealed.  The  English  were  as  un- 
willing to  see  the  Jesuit  at  this  council,  as  he  was  to 
be  seen  by  them.  The  conference  was  conducted 
in  the  most  friendly  manner,  a  treaty  of  peace  was 
made,  and  confirmed  by  the  acclamations  of  the 
savages. 

The  Norridgewocks  had  scarcely  reached  home, 
when  messengers  came  from  the  French  Governor 
at  Quebec,  stating  that  there  was  war  between 
France  and  England,  and  calling  upon  these  sav- 
age allies  to  break  the  treaty  they  had  just  made 
with  the  English,  and  once  more  take  the  hatchet. 

A  council  was  called,  and  it  was  decided  to  com- 
mence hostilities.  The  young  people  were  ordered 
to  kill  the  dogs,  to  make  a  war  feast ;  and  as  they 
4 


34  THE   HISTORY   OF 

danced  around  the  kettles  that  contained  their  food, 
two  hundred  and  fifty  of  these  savage  warriors 
engaged  themselves  to  enter  immediately  on  the 
bloody  work  of  massacre  and  destruction.  A  day 
was  appointed  by  the  priest  for  them  to  come  to 
confession ;  and  thus  the  sanctions  of  religion  were 
given  to  their  cruel  enterprise  of  exterminating  the 
English.  In  order  more  suddenly  and  extensively 
to  effect  their  work  of  carnage,  they  were  divided 
into  small  parties,  who  were  thus  addressed  by  the 
chiefs,  as  they  assigned  their  work  of  slaughter  to 
each  band  :  — "  To  you,  we  give  this  village  to  de- 
vour; to  those  others,  we  give  this  settlement. 
&c."  Thus,  on  the  same  day,  the  war  whoop  oi 
the  savages  was  sounded  from  Casco  to  Wells,  and 
the  inhabitants  were  startled  from  their  burning 
houses,  to  meet  the  tomahawk  and  the  scalping 
knife,  or  dragged  into  a  wretched  captivity.  The 
Norridgewock  warriors  returned  in  triumph  to  their 
village,  each  one  with  two  canoes  loaded  with  the 
plunder  they  had  taken.  Frequent  irruptions  were 
made  by  the  Indians  during  the  war.  But  the 
Norridgewocks  also  were  doomed  to  suffer  in  these 
hostilities.  While  their  warriors  were  absent,  in 
1705,  the  English  made  a  sudden  descent  upon  the 
village,  under  Col.  Hilton.  The  church  was 
burned  and  the  wigwams  destroyed. 

On  the  return  of  peace,  a  deputation  of  the 
principal  men  among  the  natives  visited  Boston,  for 
the  purpose  of  procuring  workmen  to  rebuild  their 
church.     The  Governor  received  them  very  court- 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  35 

eonsly,  and  offered  to  rebuild  their  church  and  send 
them  an  English  minister,  if  they  would  send  back 
Rasles  to  Quebec.  The  indignant  Indians  replied, 
"  Keep  your  minister  and  your  gold,  we  will  ask 
assistance  of  our  father,  the  French  Governor." 
But  workmen  were  sent  from  Boston,  who  rebuilt 
the  church  in  a  manner  which  was  perfectly  satis- 
factory to  the  Indians  and  their  priest. 

The  peace  of  1713  was  soon  broken  by  the  jeal- 
ousy of  the  Indians  and  the  machinations  of  the 
French.*  The  natives  saw  with  alarm  the  gradu- 
al encroachments  of  the  English  settlers  on  their 
hunting  grounds,  and  they  were  often  goaded  to 
revenge  by  the  unscrupulous  conduct  of  adventu- 
rers who  thought  it  no  sin  to  cheat  an  Indian  The 
French  feared  that  the  prosperity  of  the  English 
settlements  would  be  fatal  to  their  power  in  North- 
America.  Instructions  were  sent  by  the  French 
Governor,  Yaudrieul,  to  the  Jesuits,  Rasles  and  La 
Chasse,  to  awaken  the  hostility  of  the  savages,  so 
that  they  might  constantly  harass  the  English,  and 
if  possible,  drive  them  from  the  State.  At  a  confer- 
ence at  Arrowsick,  held  by  Governor  Shute  with 
the  Indians,  in  1717,  they  demanded  that  no  further 
encroachments  on  their  territory  should  be  made  by 
the  settlers,  and  complained  of  the  injuries  that  had 
been  inflicted  on  them  by  the  unprincipled  traders, 
who  had  defrauded  them  of  their  property.  The 
existing  difficulties  were  removed,  and  the  peace  of 

*  Willis'  History  of  Portland,  Part  II,  page  30. 


36 


THE    HISTORY    OF 


1713  was  again  confirmed.  But  the  causes  of  irri- 
tation were  not  yet  taken  away.  French  influence 
was  still  felt  in  the  councils  of  the  savages,  awak- 
ening their  jealousy  and  exciting  them  to  acts  of 
hostility.  Brooding  over  the  wrongs  committed 
upon  their  nation,  and  having  their  merciless  pur- 
poses of  revenge  hallowed  by  their  religion,  they 
were  determined  to  sweep  from  their  country  those 
heretics,  who  had  invaded  their  hunting  grounds, 
and  before  whose  presence  the  red  man  perished. 

In  1719,  the  Indians  once  more  made  their  de- 
mands that  the  English  should  remove  from  their 
country ;  but  they  were  prevented  from  open  acts 
of  hostility  by  a  small  force  stationed  on  the  fron- 
tiers of  the  English  settlements.  The  next  year, 
parties  of  the  Norridgewocks  committed  some  dep- 
redations on  the  settlers  —  killing  their  cattle  and 
threatening  their  lives ;  but  further  manifestations 
of  ill  feeling  were  prevented  by  the  arrival  of  Col. 
Walton,  with  200  soldiers,  who  had  been  detached 
to  guard  the  frontiers. 

In  August,  1721,  a  party  of  200  Indians,  who 
were  well  armed  and  under  French  colors,  came  to 
Arrowsic,  to  have  a  conference  with  Capt.  Penhal- 
low,  who  had  the  command  of  the  fort  at  that 
place.  They  were  accompanied  by  the  priests, 
Rasles  and  La  Chasse ;  M.  Crozier,  from  Quebec, 
and  a  son  of  Baron  Castine.  Nothing  was  effected 
by  this  meeting,  for  the  influence  of  the  priests  was 
so  great  over  the  natives,  that  no  agreement  could 
be  made  with   them  by  the  English,  that  would 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  37 

compromise  the  interests  of  the  French.  The  In- 
dians resisted  every  attempt  that  was  made  to 
draw  them  into  a  conference,  without  the  presence 
of  their  missionaries.  And,  as  the  French  desired, 
the  council  was  broken  up;  the  Indians  leaving  a 
letter  to  the  Governor,  in  which  they  complained 
of  the  encroachments  of  the  settlers,  on  the  inher- 
itance which  the  Great  Spirit  had  given  to  the  red 
man.  They  threatened,  that  if  the  English  did 
not  remove  from  their  lands  within  three  weeks, 
they  would  kill  the  settlers,  burn  their  houses,  and 
destroy  their  cattle. 

The  government,  knowing  the  influence  which 
the  Jesuits  exerted  over  the  savages,  and  judging 
truly  that  there  would  be  no  lasting  peace,  while 
these  jealous  natives  were  the  servile  instruments 
in  the  hands  of  the  French,  determined  to  capture 
Rasles,  and  carry  him  to  Boston.  To  effect  this 
purpose,  Col.  Thomas  Westbrook  was  sent  with 
300  men  to  Norridgewock.  But  some  notice  of 
their  approach  having  been  given  to  the  villagers, 
the  missionary  immediately  suspected  the  object  of 
this  force,  and  escaped  with  haste  into  the  forest. 
Search  was  made  for  him  by  the  English  soldiers, 
without  success,  although  one  approached  within  a 
few  paces  of  the  very  tree  behind  which  the  old 
priest  was  concealed.  Unable  to  secure  the  person 
of  Rasles,  the  English  carried  away  the  "  strong 
box "  which  contained  his  private  manuscripts. 
Among  these  papers  was  found  the  correspondence 
between  Rasles  and  the  Governor  of  Canada.  The 
4* 


38  THE   HISTORY   OF 

machinations  of  the  French  against  the  English 
settlers,  and  their  policy  in  arousing  the  hostility  of 
the  merciless  savages,  were  fully  exposed. 

The  expedition  having  proved  a  failure,  the 
government  endeavored  to  avert  the  ill  consequen- 
ces which  would  flow  from  the  attempt.  They 
sent  presents  to  the  chiefs,  with  apologies  to  soothe 
the  Indians.  But  the  invasion  of  their  beautiful 
village  by  the  hated  foe,  and  the  attempt  of  here- 
tics to  seize  their  aged  priest,  whom  they  loved  as 
their  father,  and  reverenced  as  the  ambassador  of 
heaven,  stimulated  the  Norridgewocks  to  take  ven- 
geance on  those  who  had  insulted  them.  Revenge 
is  always  sweet  to  the  savage;  and  this  people 
needed  but  little,  at  any  time,  to  excite  them  to  en- 
gage in  an  expedition  which  promised  to  gratify 
their  deadly  hatred  against  the  English. 

A  war  party  of  sixty  men,  in  twenty  canoes, 
captured  nine  families  of  the  whites  near  Merry- 
meeting  Bay,  and  committed  depredations  on  the 
settlements  along  the  coast  east  of  the  Kennebeck. 
Another  party  surprised  the  village  of  Brunswick, 
which  they  destroyed  —  and  followed  up  their  suc- 
cess by  attacking  other  places.  When  the  Governor 
and  council  heard  of  the  destruction  of  Brunswick, 
they  made  a  formal  declaration  of  war  against  the 
Norridgewocks.  The  Indians  did  not  succeed  in 
their  attempt  to  take  the  fort  in  Georgetown,  but 
they  killed  fifty  head  of  cattle,  and  burned  twenty- 
six  dwelling  houses.  An  expedition  was  sent 
against  the  Norridgewocks,  under  Capt.  Harmon, 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  39 

in  February,  1723,  which  proved  unsuccessful ;  for 
the  English  were  unable  to  reach  the  village 
through  the  deep  snows  of  winter.  The  natives 
remained  secure  in  their  retreats  until  spring  opened, 
then,  according  to  their  usual  mode  of  conducting 
warfare,  they  divided  themselves  into  small  parties, 
and  harassed  all  the  frontier  settlements.  During 
the  first  campaign,  the  Indians  were  successful  in 
their  attacks  on  the  settlements  of  the  whites  — 
burning  their  houses,  plundering  and  murdering  the 
inhabitants,  and  eluding  pursuit.  Although  the 
government  had  offered  a  premium  for  Indian 
scalps,  and  strengthened  their  detachments  in  the 
various  forts  on  the  frontier,  yet  the  savages  were 
not  prevented  from  making  their  murderous  inroads, 
and  bearing  back  their  plunder  and  the  bloody 
trophies  of  their  prowess. 

At  length,  more  energetic  councils  prevailed,  and 
effectual  measures  were  taken  to  break  the  power 
of  the  Norridgewocks.  In  August,  1724,  two  hun- 
dred and  eight  men,  under  the  command  of  Cap- 
tains Harmon  and  Moulton,  were  sent  to  the  head 
quarters  of  this  warlike  tribe.  Proceeding  up  the 
Kennebeck,  they  landed  at  Winslow,  left  their 
boats  with  a  guard  at  that  place,  and  then  marched 
cautiously  along  the  banks  of  the  river.  When 
they  approached  the  enemy,  the  force  was  divided ; 
a  part  making  a  circuit,  so  as  to  enclose  the  village. 
Most  of  the  warriors  were  absent  on  an  expedition, 
while  destruction  was  about  to  fall  upon  their  wives 
and  children.    It  was  nearly  noon,  when  the  unsus- 


40  THE   HISTORY   OF 

picious  natives  were  thus  surrounded  by  their  ene- 
mies. A  few  soldiers  discovered  themselves  to  the 
villagers;  a  young  Indian  seeing  them,  gave  the 
war  whoop,  and  rushed  into  his  cabin  for  a  musket. 
The  alarmed  inhabitants  immediately  seized  their 
weapons,  and  fired  upon  the  invaders,  but  so  pre- 
cipitately, that  no  damage  was  done.  The  English 
soldiers,  as  they  had  been  directed,  reserved  their 
fire  until  they  were  within  pistol  shot,  when  the 
slaughter  of  the  savages  was  terrific.  Their  ranks 
were  broken,  and  they  fled  to  meet  the  fire  of  the 
whites,  who  were  advancing  from  above  the  vil- 
lage. Hemmed  in  on  every  side,  men,  women  and 
children  rushed  to  the  river,  and  were  shot  down 
indiscriminately  in  the  water. 

Orders  had  been  given  that  Rasles  should  be 
taken  alive ;  but  the  excited  soldiers  could  not  be 
restrained ;  as  the  priest  made  his  appearance,  he 
was  pierced  with  the  bullets  of  the  English.  Thus 
fell  the  aged  pastor  amidst  the  carnage  and  destruc- 
tion of  his  slaughtered  flock.  The  church  was 
plundered  of  its  plate,  and  burned  with  the  cabins 
of  the  Indians;  and  to  make  the  work  of  destruc- 
tion sure,  the  standing  corn  on  the  intervales  was 
also  cut  down  and  burned. 

There  is  a  manuscript  account  of  this  transac- 
tion, in  the  hand-writing  of  Rev.  William  Holmes, 
who  was  at  this  time  the  minister  at  Chilmark, 
Mass.  In  his  journal,  under  date  of  Aug.  30,  1724, 
he  says :  u  I  heard  lately,  that  we  had  obtained  a 
considerable  advantage  over  the  Eastern  Indians. 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  41 

at  Norridgewock.  Captain  Harmon,  with  one 
hundred  and  six  men*  under  his  command,  came 
to  Ticonet  on  the  10th  of  August.  There  he  left 
his  boats,  and  forty  men  to  guard  them.  Upon  his 
arrival  at  Norridgewock,  Aug.  12,  f  1724,  about 
noon,  finding  the  Indians  secure  in  their  houses,  he 
ordered  twenty-two  men  to  discover  themselves  to 
them  first;  while  the  rest  had  so  posted  themselves, 
that  the  Indians  could  not  avoid  them,  but  by  run- 
ning into  the  river.  The  number  of  fighting  men 
among  them  was  reckoned  to  be  sixty,  besides 
women  and  children.  When  they  came  out  of 
their  houses,  they  gave  a  prodigious  shout,  in  token 
of  defiance  of  so  small  a  number,  and  fired  upon 
them,  but  without  doing  any  damage.  Upon  the 
appearance  of  the  rest  of  the  army,  they  fired  two 
vollies  more,  and  then  took  to  the  river  with  their 
women  and  children,  having  lost  about  twenty  of 
their  number  on  the  spot,  without  so  much  as  one 
man  killed  or  wounded  on  the  side  of  the  English. 
They  were  fired  upon  in  the  water,  with  great 
slaughter.  It  is  thought  that  the  number  killed 
and  wounded  cannot  he  less  than  eighty.  The 
scalps  of  twenty-eight  of  them  were  brought  to 
Boston ;  of  which  number,  their  priest's  and  Bom- 
bazin's  were  two." 

The  soldiers,  having  accomplished  the  work  of 
destruction,  and  scalped  the  slain,  retired  from  the 
scene  of  desolation  and  carnage.     The  few  scatter- 

*  Also  102  men  under  Moulton.  i  Old  Style 


42  THE    HISTORY    OF 

ed  survivors  of  the  Norridgewocks  assembled  where 
once  their  beautiful  village  stood,  to  weep  over  the 
dead,  and  perform  the  rites  of  burial.  Their  first 
care  was  to  find  the  mangled  remains  of  the  mis- 
sionary, whose  body  they  washed,  and  shedding 
many  tears,  they  buried  him  deep  below  the  altar, 
where  once  he  stood  to  teach  them  the  things  that 
pertain  to  the  spirit  world.  Their  chief,  Bombazin, 
was  also  among  the  slain,  and  as  they  committed 
his  body  to  the  earth,  they  grieved  to  think  no 
prayer  was  uttered  by  priestly  lips,  and  no  burial 
service  was  pronounced  over  the  grave  of  the 
mighty  chief,  where,  for  so  many  years,  it  had  not 
been  omitted,  when  the  feeblest  child  was  buried. 
When  their  mournful  task  was  done,  and  the  rude 
cross  was  erected  to  mark  the  spot,  they  took  their 
muskets,  and  turned  to  bid  farewell  forever  to  that 
home  of  their  childhood,  endeared  to  them  by  so 
many  associations.  Their  place  and  their  tribe 
were  alike  destroyed  — the  few  survivors  mingled 
with  the  Penobscots  and  others  —  and  the  name  of 
the  Norridgewocks  was  blotted  from  the  register  of 
Indian  tribes. 

Rasles,  whose  tragical  death  we  have  noticed, 
was  distinguished  for  his  literary  attainments.  He 
was  thoroughly  educated,  and  wrote  the  Latin 
with  classical  purity.  He  made  himself  fully  ac-* 
quainted  with  all  the  Indian  dialects,  and  prepared 
a  dictionary  of  the  Abenaquis  language,  which  is 
preserved  in  the  library  of  Harvard  College.  He 
taught  many  of  the  Norridgewocks  to  write,  and 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  43 

held  a  correspondence  with  some  of  them,  in  their 
own  language.*  He  was  a  zealous  Catholic,  and 
devoted  himself  to  the  service  of  the  church.  He 
Avas  mild  in  his  manners,  and  convincing  in  his 
speech;  his  conversation  had  a  charm,  that  would 
compel  the  savages  to  listen  to  him.  He  knew 
how  to  adapt  his  language  to  their  modes  of 
thought,  and  to  communicate  the  doctrines  of  his 
religion  to  those  who  had  been  entirely  ignorant  of 
the  truths  of  revelation.  Patient  in  suffering  the 
inconveniences  of  a  life  among  savages,  and  active 
in  relieving  the  wants  of  those  whom  he  came  to 
assist,  he  toiled  on  in  his  great  work  of  imparting 
knowledge  to  the  ignorant,  and  elevating  the  de- 
graded. 

The  only  shade  that  rests  upon  his  character,  is 
the  agency  he  exerted  in  exciting  the  Indians  to 
war  against  the  English  settlements.  If  he  did  not 
directly  urge  on  the  savages  to  massacre  the  whites, 
he  certainly  did  not  use  the  great  influence  he  had 
over  their  consciences,  as  spiritual  dictator,  in  re- 
straining them  from  their  murderous  inroads.  But 
his  conduct  in  this  respect  admits  of  this  palliation, 
that  he  obeyed  the  instructions  of  the  French  Gov- 
ernor; and  we  should  not  judge  one  who  lived  so 
near  the  times  of  the  frightful  massacre  of  Protest- 
ants on  St.  Bartholomew's  day,  by  the  light  which 
is  now  spread  over  the  civilized  world. 

Old  Point  has  long  been  cultivated,  and  the  plow 

*  Willis'  History  of  Portland,  Part  II,  page  34. 


44  THE    HISTORY    OF 

of  the  husbandman  passes  over  the  site  of  the  In- 
dian village,  sometimes  turning  up  the  relics  of  the 
aborigines.  About  forty  years  since,  a  tree  on  the 
Point  having  been  uprooted  by  the  storm,  there  was 
found  beneath  it  the  bell  of  the  Indian  chapel. 

Whittier,  in  the  poem  from  which  we  have  al- 
ready quoted,  thus  describes  the  destruction  of  the 
Norridgewocks : 

In  one  lone  village  hemmed  at  length, 
In  battle  shorn  of  half  their  strength, 

Turned  like  the  panther  in  his  lair, 
With  his  fast  flowing  life-blood  wet, 

For  one  last  struggle  of  despair, 
Wounded  and  faint,  but  tameless  yet ! 
Hark  !  what  sudden  sound  is  heard, 

In  the  wood  and  in  the  sky, 
Shriller  than  the  scream  of  bird, 

Than  the  trumpet's  clang  more  high ; 

Every  wolf-cave  of  the  hills, 

Forest  arch,  and  mountain  gorge, 

With  an  answering  echo  thrills. 
Well  does  the  Jesuit  know  that  cry, 
"Which  summons  the  Norridgewock  to  die; 
He  listens,  and  hears  the  rangers  come, 
With  loud  hurrah,  and  jar  of  drum, 
And  hurrying  feet,  for  the  chase  is  hot, 
And  the  short,  sharp  sound  of  the  rifle  shot, 
And  taunt  and  menace,  answered  well 
By  the  Indian's  mocking  cry  and  yell, 
The  bark  of  dogs,  the  squaw's  mad  scream, 
The  dash  of  paddles  along  the  stream, 
The  whistle  of  shot,  as  it  cuts  the  leaves 
Of  the  maples  around  the  church's  eaves, 


NOKRIDGEWOCK.  45 

And  the  gride  of  hatchets  fiercely  thrown 
On  wigwam,  log,  and  tree,  and  stone. 

######## 

Hark !    from  the  foremost  of  the  band, 

Suddenly  bursts  the  Indian  yell ; 
For  now  on  the  very  spot  they  stand, 

Where  the  Norridgewocks  fighting  fell ; 

No  wigwam  smoke  is  curling  there, 

The  very  earth  is  scorched  and  bare. 
And  they  pause,  and  listen  to  catch  a  sound 

Of  breathing  life ;  but  there  comes  not  one, 
Save  the  fox's  bark,  and  the  rabbit's  bound  ; 
But  here  and  there  on  the  blackened  ground, 

White  bones  are  glistening  in  the  sun. 

And  where  the  house  of  prayer  arose, 

And  the  holy  hymn,  at  daylight's  close, 

And  the  aged  priest  stood  up  to  bless 

The  children  of  the  wilderness, — 
There  is  naught  save  ashes,  sodden  and  dank, 

And  the  birchen  boats  of  the  Norridgewock, 

Tethered  to  tree  and  stump  and  rock, 
Rotting  along  the  river  bank. 

In  1833,  Bishop  Fenwick,  of  Boston,  having  pur- 
chased an  acre  of  land  at  Old  Point,  where  the 
church  formerly  stood,  with  a  passage  way  to  the 
road,  made  preparations  to  erect  a  monument  in 
memory  of  Rasles.  This  was  raised  on  the  23d  of 
August  —  the  anniversary  of  the  destruction  of  the 
church  and  village — and  consists  of  a  granite  obe- 
lisk, three  feet  square  at  the  base,  and  eleven  feet 
high,  placed  on  a  granite  basement  and  table  stone, 
four  feet  square,  and  five  feet  high.  The  obelisk  is 
surmounted  by  an  iron  cross,  two  feet  high  ;  making 
5 


46 


THE   HISTORY   OF 


the  whole  height  to  the  top  of  the  cross,  eighteen 
feet. 


KASLES'  MONUMENT.. 

The  following  inscription,  in  Latin,  is  engraved 
on  a  granite  block  in  the  south  side  of  the  basement : 


Rev's.  Sebastianus  Rasles,  natione  Gallus,  e  societate 
Jesu  missionarius,  aliquot  annos  Ulionois  et  Huronibus  pri- 
mum  evangelans,  deinde  per  34  annos  Abenaquis,  fide  et 
charitate  Christi  verus  apostolus,  periculis  armorum  interritus, 
se  pro  suis  ovibus  mori  paratum  ssepius  testificans,  inter  arma 
et  csedes  ac  Pagi  Nanrantsouack  [norridgewock]  et  Eccle- 
siee  suae  ruinas,  hoc  in  ipso  loco,  cecidit  tandem  optiraus 
pastor,  die  23°  Augustii,  'Ann.  Dom.  1724. 

Ipsi  et  filiis  suis  in  Christo  defunctis,  monumentum  posuit 
Benedictus  Fenwick,  Episcopus  Bostoniensis,  dedicavitque 
die  23°  Augustii,  A.  D.  1833.    A.  M.  D.  G. 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  47 

TRANSLATION. 

Rev.  Sebastian  Rasles,  a  native  of  France,  a 
missionary  of  the  Society  of  Jesuits,  at  first  preach- 
ing for  a  few  years  to  the  Illinois  and  Hurons, 
afterwards,  for  thirty-four  years,  to  the  Abenaquis, 
in  faith  and  charity  a  true  apostle  of  Christ,  un- 
daunted by  the  danger  of  arms,  often  testifying  that 
he  was  prepared  to  die  for  his  flock ;  at  length,  this 
best  of  pastors  fell  amidst  arms,  at  the  destruction 
of  the  village  of  Norridgewock,  and  the  ruins  of 
his  own  church,  in  this  very  place,  on  the  23d  day 
of  August,  A.  D.  1724, 

Benedict  Fenwick,  Bishop  of  Boston,  has  erected 
this  monument,  and  dedicated  it  to  him  and  his 
deceased  children  in  Christ,  on  the  23d  of  August, 
A.  D.  1833.     To  the  greater  glory  of  God. 

A  large  concourse  of  people,  estimated  at  three 
thousand,  assembled  to  witness  the  ceremony  of 
the  dedication,  and  to  listen  to  an  interesting  address 
on  the  character  of  Rasles,  by  Bishop  Fenwick. 

This  monument  was  thrown  down  two  years 
afterwards,  by  mischievous  persons,  at  the  instiga- 
tion of  strangers  from  Boston,  whose  prejudices 
were  excited  against  the  Catholics.  It  was  imme- 
diately replaced  by  some  of  the  citizens  of  Norridge- 
wock, and  remains  a  humble  and  harmless  memento 
of  the  place  where  the  Indian  church  once  stood. 


CHAPTER  III 


ENGLISH    GRANTS    AND    LAND  TITLES. 

King  James'  grant  to  the  Plymouth  Council,  Grant  to  the 
Plymouth  Colony,  Kennebeck  Purchase,  Grant  of  Laconia  to 
Gorges,  McKechnie's  Survey,  Settlers  at  Canaan,  Farring- 
ton's  Survey,  Description. 

In  order  to  understand  the  history  of  this  and  the 
adjoining  towns,  it  is  necessary  to  recur  to  the  first 
settlement  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  at  Plymouth. 
At  that  time,  the  English  government  assumed  the 
title  and  jurisdiction  of  all  the  lands  in  New  Eng- 
land, and  made  extensive  grants  to  companies  and 
individuals. 

In  1606,  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  and  Sir  John 
Popham,  hecoming  deeply  interested  in  planting  a 
colony  in  North  America,  succeeded  in  enlisting 
many  of  the  first  names  in  England  in  behalf  of 
the  enterprise.  Two  companies  were  formed  ;  one 
called  the  London  Company,  by  whom  the  first 
English  colony  was  planted  at  Virginia ;  the  other, 
the  Plymouth  Company,  who  despatched  an  expe- 
dition to  settle  in  North  Virginia,  as  this  part  of 
North  America  was  then  called.     The  expedition 


THE    HISTORY   OF   NORRIDGEWOCK.  49 

fitted  out  by  the  Plymouth  Company,,  commenced 
a  settlement  near  the  mouth  of  the  Kennebeck,  in 
1607.  But  this  settlement  was  abandoned  the  next 
year.  By  the  efforts  of  Gorges,  a  new  company 
was  formed  in  1620,  and  a  grant  was  made  by 
King  James  to  this  corporation,  known  by  the  name 
of  "  the  Council  established  at  Plymouth,  in  the 
County  of  'Devon,  for  the  planting,  ruling  and  gov- 
erning of  New  England,  in  America,  of  all  the 
territory,  from  the  fortieth  to  the  forty-eighth  degree 
of  north  latitude. 

The  Pilgrims,  after  their  settlement  at  Plymouth, 
found  themselves  without  a  legal  title  to  the  soil, 
and,  in  the  name  of  William  Bradford,  they  ob- 
tained a  patent  from  the  Council  of  Plymouth,  in 
1629,  by  which  was  granted  to  them  the  territory  of 
the  colony,  and  a  tract  of  land,  extending  from  the 
Cobbossee  Contee  to  the  falls  of  the  Nequamkike,* 
and  the  space  of  fifteen  miles  on  each  side  of  the 
Kennebeck.  This  grant,  by  subsequent  arrangment 
and  consent,  extended  to  and  included  the  whole  of 
Norridgewock,  and  all  the  lands  lying  between  this 
town  and  Woolwich,  extending  back  fifteen  miles, 
on  each  side  of  the  Kennebeck. 

In  1661,  the  Plymouth  colony  conveyed  their 
right  to  this  tract  of  land  to  Antipas  Boies  and 
others.  These  persons  and  their  heirs  held  this 
territory  for  nearly  a  century,  without  making  any 
efforts  to  effect  a  settlement.     In  1749,  a  meeting  of 

*  It  is  not  known,  to  this  day,  what  place  was  intended  by 
"  the  falls  of  Nequamkike." 

5* 


50  THE    HISTORY    OF 

the  proprietors  was  called  ;  and  in  1753,  they  were 
incorporated,  under  the  name  of  "  Proprietors  of  the 
Kennebeck  Purchase,  of  the  late  colony  of  New 
Plymouth,"  but  they  are  commonly  known  by  the 
name  of  the  Plymouth  Company.  The  meetings 
of  the  Company  continued  regularly,  from  1749  to 
1816,  when  the  proprietors  sold  out  their  remaining 
interest  at  auction,  and  the  Company  was  dissolved. 
Before  the  Council  at  Plymouth  had  granted  to 
the  Plymouth  colony  the  lands  lying  on  the  Ken- 
nebeck, they  had  granted  Laconia,  or  all  the  lands 
situated  between  the  rivers  Merrimack  and  Sagada- 
hock,  extending  back  to  the  great  lakes  and  the 
river  of  Canada,  to  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  and 
John  Mason.  This  was  in  1622.  These  proprie- 
tors divided  this  territory  between  them;  Mason 
taking  out  a  separate  patent  in  1629,  for  that  por- 
tion lying  south  and  west  of  the  Piscataqua,  which 
he  called  New  Hampshire.  The  remaining  portion 
became  the  property  of  Gorges,  who  gave  the  terri- 
tory the  name  of  New  Somersetshire,  in  compli- 
ment to  his  native  county.  In  1640,  the  patent 
from  the  Council  at  Plymouth  to  Gorges  was  con- 
firmed by  a  new  charter  from  the  Crown,  and  the 
territory  was  first  styled  the  Province  of  Maine. 
The  government  of  Massachusetts  laid  claim  to  this 
territory,  and  after  a  long  controversy,  it  was  de- 
cided in  favor  of  the  heirs  of  Gorges.  But  Ferdi- 
nando Gorges,  the  grandson  of  the  old  Lord 
Proprietor,  sold  out  his  title  to  Massachusetts,  in 
1677,  and  thus  Maine  became  annexed  to  that  com- 
monwealth. 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  51 

In  1767,  the  Plymouth  Company,  wishing  to  en- 
courage settlements  on  their  lands,  as  there  were  at 
this  time  no  settlers  ahove  Waterville,  and  desiring 
to  make  a  partition  of  a  portion  of  their  lands 
among  individual  proprietors,  employed  Doct.  John 
McKechnie  to  survey  twelve  lots  on  each  side  of  the 
Kennebeck,  called  the  great  lots.  Directions  were 
given  that  these  lots  should  be  three  hundred  and 
six  rods  wide  on  the  river,  and  extend  back  fifteen 
miles;  and  that  two  settlers'  lots,  of  two  hundred 
acres  each,  should  be  laid  out  on  each  of  the  great 
lots  fronting  on  the  river.  As  the  settlers'  lots  were 
seventy-five  rods  wide,  one  half  of  the  front  of  the 
great  lots  was  given  to  those  who  would  settle 
thereon. 

The  recitals  in  the  grants  made  by  the  proprietors 
of  the  Kennebeck  Purchase,  or  the  Plymouth  Com- 
pany, as  they  are  better  known,  contain  historical 
facts  which  are  of  general  interest*  All  the  orig- 
inal grants  to  settlers  in  this  town  are  of  the  same 
tenor,  except  the  conditions  as  to  settling  duties.  In 
1770,  after  Doct.  McKechnie  had  made  his  survey 
of  the  great  lots,  the  proprietors  found  that  addi- 
tional inducements  were  necessary  to  procure  settlers 
on  the  remote  parts  of  their  lands,  they  concluded 
to  give  a  lot  of  two  hundred  acres  to  each  person 
who  would  settle  on  their  lands,  in  this  town  or 
Canaan,  (including  what  is  now  Bloomfield  and 
Skowhegan,)  "on  condition  that  he  actually  settled 

*  A  copy  of  the  grant  of  one  of  these  lots,  extending  into  the 
town,  and  including  about  one  seventh  part  of  it,  is  inserted  en- 
tire in  the  appendix. 


52  THE    HISTORY    OF 

or  dwelt  thereon  for  the  space  of  ten  years,  built  a 
dwelling  house  thereon,  and  within  three  years  of 
the  time  of  his  removing  on  said  land,  should  clear 
up  and  put  into  grass  five  acres."  Afterwards,  a 
provision  was  put  in  many  grants,  requiring  each 
settler  to  work  two  days  in  a  year  on  the  public 
road  ;  and  to  contribute  to  the  support  of  the  Gos- 
pel, or  to  work  two  days  in  a  year  on  a  meeting- 
house. They  made  arrangments  with  many  who 
were  disposed  to  listen  to  their  proposals,  for  the 
appointment  of  a  committee  of  three,  who  were  to 
have  an  oversight  of  the  settlers,  and  who  were 
empowered  to  give  certificates  to  those  who  should 
perform  the  conditions,  called  " settling  duties,"  so 
that  they  might  obtain  the  title  to  their  farms  in  due 
time. 

In  1771,  under  these  encouragements,  Joseph 
Weston,  of  Littleton,  Massachusetts,  a  man  ad- 
vanced in  life,  who  had  seven  sons,  the  ancestors 
of  all  the  Westons  in  this  county,  Peter  Hey  wood 
and  Jonathan  Oakes,  who  also  had  families,  Isaac 
Smith  and  two  other  young  men,  all  from  the  same 
vicinity,  came  to  Ticonic  in  the  summer  season. 
They  explored  the  country  as  far  up  as  the  Old 
Point,  at  the  mouth  of  Sandy  river.  They  found 
that  the  intervales,  in  many  places,  had  been  cleared 
by  the  Indians  a  long  time  before,  also  many  of  the 
small  islands  in  the  river.  The  places  cleared 
were  covered  with  wild  grass;  from  which  they 
procured  hay  sufficient  to  winter  a  yoke  of  oxen, 
and   one  or  two  cows.      Mr.   Oakes  commenced 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  53 

clearing  land,  and  built  a  house  near  the  great 
eddy.  Mr.  Hey  wood  commenced  his  settlement  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  Abraham  Wyman.  Mr. 
Weston,  who  is  regarded  as  the  first  settler  in  Ca- 
naan, (now  Bloomfield,)  commenced  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  Phineas  Currier,  built  a  log  house 
near  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  made  preparations 
to  remove  his  family  to  that  place  in  the  fall.  He, 
however,  did  not  get  any  farther  than  Pownalton, 
where  the  vessel  was  stopped  by  the  ice,  and  he 
was  obliged  to  remain  there  and  at  Yassalboro  with 
his  family,  until  the  next  spring.  One  of  his  sons, 
the  late  Eli  Weston,  Esq.,  then  about  twelve  years 
old,  and  Isaac  Smith,  who  was  eighteen  years  of 
age,  came  with  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  two  cows,  aad 
wintered  in  Canaan.  In  April,  1772,  Mr.  Weston 
arrived  at  his  new  home  in  the  wilderness.  Mr. 
Heywood,  Mr.  Oakes,  and  two  others,  soon  after 
came  and  settled  upon  the  lots  they  had  commenced 
clearing. 

During  the  summer  of  1773,  the  proprietors  em- 
ployed John  Jones,  formerly  of  Concord,  Massa- 
chusetts, a  noted  surveyor,  called  Black  Jones,  to 
run  out  lots  for  settlers.  He  surveyed  the  greater 
part  of  what  is  now  Bloomfield,  a  part  of  what  is 
now  Skowhegan,  and  extended  his  survey  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river,  up  into  Norridgewock,  as 
far  as  the  upper  line  of  the  land  now  owned  by 
George  Farnsworth,  at  the  "rips,"  so  called.  His 
whole  survey  he  named  "Canaan  Plantation." 

In  the  summer  of  1774,  Thomas  Farrington  was 


54  THE    HISTORY   OF 

sent  by  the  proprietors,  to  survey  lots  for  settlers  in 
Norridgevvock.  His  instructions  were,  that  he 
should  run  out  lots,  seventy-five  rods  in  width  on 
the  river,  and  extending  back  one  mile  and  one 
third  of  a  mile,  so  as  to  include  two  hundred  acres 
in  each  lot.  He  commenced  with  lot  No.  61,  at 
Skowhegan  Falls,  which  was  granted  to  Eleazer 
Spaulding,  for  his  services  as  one  of  the  committee, 
without  requiring  the  usual  "settling  duties." 
Spaulding  then  lived  in  Pepperell,  Massachusetts; 
he  afterwards  sold  his  right  to  Daniel  Steward, 
Esq.,  and  the  lot  is  now  owned  by  the  Messrs.  Co- 
burns  and  others,  comprising  a  portion  of  Skowhe- 
gan village.  Farrington  did  but  little  more  than  to 
take  a  survey  of  the  river,  mark  the  corners  of  the 
lots  on  the  bank,  and  return  his  plan  with  two  hun- 
dred acres  laid  down  on  each  lot,  according  to  his 
instructions.  But  upon  the  actual  measurement  of 
his  lots,  by  the  bounds  marked  on  the  banks  of  the 
river,  and  by  the  range  lines  designated  on  his  plan, 
they  are  found  to  contain,  on  an  average,  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres,  and  some  lots  contain  three 
hundred  acres.  None  of  the  lots  are  less  than 
eighty  rods  wide,  and  some  are  ninety  or  more. 
His  manner  of  surveying,  from  the  Tillage  lot  up 
to  Old  Point,  was  to  put  up  his  bounds  on  the  north 
side  of  the  river,  set  his  compass,  and  take  his 
course  across  the  river  in  a  direction  with  the  side 
lines  of  the  lots,  and  send  a  man  across  in  a  canoe, 
to  mark  a  corner  on  the  south  side  of  the  river.  He 
then  took  the  canoe,  with  his  baggage,  up  the  river, 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  55 

and  let  the  chainmen  work  their  way  along  the 
bank  of  the  river,  in  the  best  manner  they  could, 
until  they  had  run  out  the  seventy-five  rods;  he 
would  then  come  on  shore,  and  guess  at  the  neces- 
sary addition  for  the  crooks  and  turns,  and  after 
making  what  he  considered  a  liberal  allowance,  he 
would  mark  a  corner,  and  send  a  man  across  the 
river  to  mark  a  corner  on  the  opposite  bank.  In 
this  way,  all  the  corners  on  each  bank  are,  or  ought 
to  be,  opposite  one  with  the  other.  The  lots  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river  were  numbered  from  61  to 
94,  which  is  at  the  Old  Point.  The  lots  in  the 
north  part  of  the  town  are  designated  by  the  letters 
of  the  alphabet,  from  A  to  O.  The  village  lot,  ly- 
ing in  the  bend  of  the  river,  is  marked  JE%  and 
contains  three  hundred  acres.  A  gore  in  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  town  was  not  then  lotted.  The 
whole  number  of  lots  was  fifty  on  the  north  side  of 
the  river,  and  twenty-one  on  the  south  side.  He 
extended  his  survey  up  the  Sandy  river,  about  two 
miles,  into  what  is  now  Starks,  but  was  formerly 
called  Little  Norridgewock.  Farrington  called  the 
whole  of  his  survey  Norridgewock. 

The  village,  a  mile  southeast  of  the  centre  of  the 
town,  is  in  44°  30'  north  latitude,  and  7°  30'  east 
longitude.  Nearly  two  thousand  acres  of  the  terri- 
tory of  the  town  was  set  off  in  1828,  and  annexed 
to  the  town  of  Milburn,  now  Skowhegan.  The 
town  of  Norridgewock  is  now  nearly  of  a  rectan- 
gular form,  but  the  lines  are  somewhat  irregular  in 
their  courses,  occasioned  by  the  annexation  of  sev- 


56  THE    HISTORY    OF 

eral  small  parcels  or  farms,  since  the  boundaries 
were  first  established.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Madison,  east  by  Skowhegan  and  Bloomfield, 
south  by  Fairfield  and  Smithfield,  and  on  the  west 
by  Mercer  and  Starks.  It  contains  about  twenty- 
six  thousand  acres,  being  about  six  and  two  thirds 
miles  in  length,  from  north  to  south,  and  averaging 
about  six  and  one  third  miles  in  breadth,  from  east 
to  west. 

The  Kennebeck  enters  the  town  near  its  north- 
west corner,  with  a  brisk  current,  and  after  making 
several  short  turns,  runs  in  a  direct  course  south- 
easterly, to  a  place  opposite  the  village,  passing 
over  a  fall  of  six  feet,  in  a  distance  of  little  more 
than  six  rods,  at  Bombazee,  three  miles  above  the 
village.  The  river  makes  a  gentle  curve  between 
the  two  villages,  and  then  runs  in  a  straight  course 
northeasterly  five  miles,  to  Skowhegan  Falls;  pass- 
ing out  of  the  town  a  mile  and  a  half  south  of  its 
northeast  corner.  This  portion  of  the  river  is  a 
fine  sheet  of  water,  and  is  boatable  with  safety  and 
convenience,  the  current  being  very  gentle. 

The  river  is  from  twenty-five  to  forty  rods  wide, 
and  can  be  forded  in  two  or  three  places,  in  very 
dry  times,  when  the  water  is  low.  It  is  skirted 
half  the  way  through  the  town  with  intervales;  in 
some  places,  near  the  upper  part  of  the  town,  the 
intervale  is  a  hundred  rods  in  breadth,  and  is  fertile 
and  valuable.  About  three  fifths  of  the  town  lies 
on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  but  more  than  three 
fifths  of  the  taxable  property  is  found  on  the  north 


NORRIDGEWOCK. 


57 


side.  The  surface  of  more  than  one  third  part  of 
the  town  is  level,  and  free  from  stones  —  on  which 
the  soil  is  sandy,  or  covered  with  yellow  loam;  and 
one  third  part  is  undulating  or  hilly;  the  hills  are 
generally  stony,  and  the  soil  rich,  affording  good 
pasturage.  In  some  portions  of  the  town,  the  soil 
is  clayey,  a  part  is  rich  intervale,  some  small  por- 
tions are  precipitous  and  sandy,  and  but  a  small 
portion  swampy,  barren  or  unproductive.  The  soil 
is  generally  better  adapted  to  tillage  than  for  graz- 
ing, and  is  generally  of  good  quality  and  easily 
cultivated. 

There  was  formerly  a  considerable  quantity  of 
pine  timber  in  the  town,  which  was  distinguished 
for  its  size.  The  hard  wood  growth  originally  con- 
sisted of  beech,1  sugar  maple,2  yellow  and  white 
birch,3  white  and  brown  ash,4  intermixed  with 
evergreens,  of  which  hemlock5  predominated; 
spruce6  and  cedar7  were  also  found,  and  in  some 
swampy  places,  hackmatack.8  Red  oak,9  of  a  good 
quality,  was  found  on  some  of  the  high  hills,  and 
along  the  banks  of  the  river.  The  margin  of  the 
river  was  lined  with  trees  of  various  kinds,  and  the 
intervales  were  covered  with  the  white  and  sugar 
maple,  the  elm,10  the  birch,  the  butternut,11  and  the 
bass  wood;12  balm   of  Gilead   and   poplars13   were 

» Fagus  feruginea ;  2  Acer  saccharinum ;  s  Betula  excelsa,  B. 
papyracea;  «Fraxinus  americana,  F.  sambucifolia;  5  Abies  cana- 
densis; °  Abies  alba  and  A.  nigra;  7  Thuja  occidentalis ;  8  Larix 
americana;  •  Quercus  rubra ;  10  Ulmus  americana ;  nJuglans 
cinerea;  ,2Tilia_americana;  ^3Populus  tremuloides  and  P.  can- 
dicani, 

6 


58  THE   HISTORY    OF   NORRIDGEWOCK. 

found  in  some  places.  The  most  of  the  pine  and 
oak  timber  was  taken  off  many  years  ago  by  the 
pioneers  in  the  lumbering  business,  in  the  early  set- 
tlement of  the  town. 

There  is  an  excellent  granite  quarry  on  Dodlin 
hill,  on  the  south  line  of  the  town,  from  which 
large  quantities  are  taken  yearly  for  building. 
Limestone  is  found  in  considerable  extent,  suitable 
for  agricultural  purposes.  It  has  been  used  for 
building;  but  most  of  that  which  has  yet  been 
burnt  contains  a  mixture  of  slate.  It  is  probable 
that  when  the  surface  stone  is  removed,  the  lime- 
stone will  be  free  from  this  impurity. 


CHAPTER   IV 


SETTLEMENT    OF    NORRIDGEWOCK. 

Character  of  Settlers, — 1772,  Warren  explores  the  place, — 1773, 
Warren,  Fletcher,  Wood,  Clark,  Farrington,  Crosby,  Wilson, 
Waugh,  McDonald,  Fling,  Brown,  Lamson, — 1774,  Acci- 
dent, Seventy  Lots  selected,  Revolutionary  War, — 1776,  Only 
ten  settlers, —  1777,  Clarke  comes  with  his  wife  in  a  canoe, 
Gray,  Martin,  Thompson, —  1778,  Spauldings,  Paine, — 1779, 
Spauldings,  Keiths,  Perils  of  the  first  barrel  of  rum, — 1780, 
Moores,  Witherell,  Laughton,  Vickerie,  Richards,  Warren, 
Tarbells,  Shed,  Withees,  Adams,  Smith,  Nutting,  Thompson, 
Patten, — 1781,  Longleys,  Sampson,  Witham,  Cooks,  Pierces, 
Gilman,  Farnsworth,  Kidder,  Squier,  Rogers,  Lancaster, 
Heald,  Robbins. 

The  first  settlers  of  this  town  were  mostly  young 
men,  whose  robust  constitutions  had  been  formed 
by  the  hard  services  of  the  camp,  in  the  army,  and 
by  breathing  the  bracing  air  of  poverty  in  their 
youth.  Inured  to  the  toils  of  labor  from  their  in- 
fancy, they  depended  upon  their  own  exertion  to 
make  their  way  in  the  world.  An  axe  and  a  gun, 
a  knapsack  of  provisions,  a  blanket  and  a  change 
of  clothing,  comprised  the  inventory  of  many  of 
them.  A  canoe  was  sufficient  to  transport  the  fur- 
niture of  those  who  had  families.     By  such  men 


60  THE   HISTORY   OF 

was  this  place  explored  and  settled.  The  promise 
of  having  their  land  given  to  them  for  settling,  was 
the  inducement  that  excited  them  to  penetrate  the 
forest,  remote  from  all  the  conveniences  of  life.  A 
great  part  of  the  early  settlers  emigrated  from  Ash- 
by,  Concord,  Pepperel,  Townsend,  and  that  vicin- 
ity in  Massachusetts,  and  the  adjoining  towns  in 
New  Hampshire. 

William  Warren,  of  Ashby,  explored  this  place 
for  the  purpose  of  settlement,  in  1772.  He  built  a 
log  house  that  year,  on  the  village  lot,  on  the  hill 
about  forty  rods  north  of  the  place  where  John  S. 
Abbott's  house  now  stands.  This  was  the  first 
house  built  within  the  limits  of  this  town.  He 
removed  his  family,  in  company  with  William 
Fletcher,  into  this  house,  in  the  spring  of  1773. 
Fletcher  lived  in  the  house  with  Warren  until  he 
built  a  log  cabin  for  himself,  half  a  mile  west  of 
Wrarren's,  on  the  Boardman  lot,  No.  77.  Warren 
and  Fletcher  are  regarded  as  the  first  settlers, 
though  many  others  came  about  the  same  time  to 
explore  the  country,  four  of  whom  remained  and 
spent  the  winter  in  the  place,  and  established  them- 
selves as  settlers.  During  the  summer  of  that 
year,  Oliver  Wood,  Esq.,  came  and  commenced 
clearing  the  lot  where  James  B.  Wood  now  lives. 
He  cleared  a  piece  of  ground  and  sowed  it  with 
rye,  and  the  next  year  raised  a  good  crop,  being  the 
first  grain  that  was  raised  in  town.  John  Clark 
came  at  the  same  time,  and  commenced  on  the  lot 
where   Seth   Cutler  now   lives.     Abel  Farrington, 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  61 

the  same  summer,  settled  where  Seth  Parlin  now 
lives.  Seth  Wyman  commenced  a  settlement  in 
this  town,  that  year,  but  he  afterwards  gave  it  up, 
and  removed  to  Canaan.  Joel  Crosby  selected  the 
lot  now  owned  by  J.  and  S.  Bixby,  did  some  work 
upon  it,  and  induced  Lovel  Fairbrother  to  settle 
upon  it,  as  a  tenant  under  him.  Oliver  Wilson 
commenced  his  settlement  where  Levi  Cutler  now 
lives.  During  the  same  season,  James  Waugh, 
Esq.,  commenced  preparing  a  farm  at  Little  Nor- 
ridgewock,  where  James  M.  Hilton  now  lives. 
Waugh  was  married  the  next  winter,  and  brought 
his  wife  to  their  home  in  the  wilderness ;  being  the 
first  settlers  in  what  is  now  Starks.  Morris  Fling 
commenced  at  Old  Point,  and  afterwards  removed 
to  Seven  Mile  Brook.  James  McDonald  settled  on 
the  lot  now  owned  by  Nathan  Wood.  Thomas 
Brown  and  a  Mr.  Lamson  also  had  taken  up  lots  in 
1773.  It  was  during  the  summer  of  this  year,  that 
"Black  Jones"  made  his  survey  of  Canaan  Plan- 
tation, which  extended  into  this  town. 

On  the  24th  of  April,  1774,  Warren  and  Fletch- 
er, the  first  settlers,  with  Brown,  McDonald  and 
Lamson,  were  going  down  the  river  in  a  boat; 
when  they  were  at  the  great  eddy  below  Skowhe- 
gan  Falls,  they  unfortunately  upset  their  canoe, 
and  all  but  Fletcher  were  drowned.  An  afflicting 
calamity  for  this  infant  and  remote  settlement,  there 
being  then  but  three  or  four  other  families  in  the 
town.  Mrs.  Warren  with  her  children,  and  Mrs. 
6* 


62  THE   HISTORY   OF 

McDonald  with  a  young  child,  removed  to  their 
friends  in  Massachusetts. 

During  the  summer  of  1774,  when  Farrington 
had  completed  his  survey,  or  plan,  nearly  every  lot 
was  taken  up.  It  is  stated  that  seventy  lots  were 
selected  during  that  year  by  settlers,  including 
those  who  had  previously  moved  into  the  place. 
Most  of  those  who  selected  lots  were  young  men 
from  Massachusetts,  who  had  explored  the  country 
the  year  before.  They  made  arrangements  to  move 
here  the  next  year ;  but  the  war  of  the  Revolution 
broke  out  the  next  spring,  and  as  most  of  them  be- 
longed to  the  vicinity  of  Concord  and  Lexington, 
some  were  detached  in  the  militia,  at  the  Lexington 
fight  and  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  Some  after- 
wards enlisted  in  the  army ;  some  were  killed,  and 
some  died  j  others  were  discouraged,  and  but  few 
had  sufficient  resolution  to  settle  upon  the  lots  they 
had  taken  up  in  that  or  the  succeeding  year. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1776,  there  were  but  ten 
settlers  within  the  limits  of  Norridgewock;  namely, 
William  Fletcher,  on  the  Boardman  lot;  Lovel 
Fairferother,  on  the  Bixby  lot ;  Ephraim  Brown,  on 
the  lot  next  below  the  village;  Sylvanus  Sawyer 
and  s©a,  at  Old  Point;  James  Wangh,  at  Little 
Norridgewock ;  Abel  Farrington,  on  the  Parlin  lot ; 
Morris  Fling,  at  Old  Point — all  of  whom  had  fam- 
ilies— and  Jonas  Parlin,  Nathan  Parlin,  and  John 
Heald,  who  were  single  men. 

J<ohn  Clark  was  one  of  the  seventy  who  had  select- 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  63 

ed  lots  in  1774,  with  the  intention  of  settling  in  the 
place  the  next  year;  but  he  enlisted  into  the  army, 
was  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  and  served  till 
discharged  in  1776.  He  spent  the  summer  of  that 
year,  and  the  summer  of  1777,  in  making  prepara- 
tions for  a  permanent  settlement  on  the  village  lot, 
originally  taken  up  by  Warren,  his  brother-in-law, 
whose  family  had  abandoned  it.  He  went  back  to 
Massachusetts  in  the  fall,  was  married,  and  remov- 
ed his  wife  to  his  log  cabin  in  November,  1777. 
There  being  no  road  that  was  passable,  their  only 
communication  up  and  down  the  river,  was  by 
water,  in  canoes,  in  the  summer,  and  with  hand- 
sleds,  on  the  ice,  in  winter.  When  he  removed, 
late  in  November,  he  came  from  Hallowell  with  his 
wife  and  furniture,  in  a  canoe,  amidst  snow  and 
ice.  Clark  had  made  better  preparation  than  most 
of  the  settlers,  before  he  married  and  removed  his 
wife  here.  He  had  raised  corn  sufficient  to  supply 
his  family  with  bread  for  a  year,  had  carried  a 
canoe  load  to  Winslow  to  mill,  and  had  stored  his 
meal  in  his  camp  for  his  winter's  supply,  before  he 
left  the  place  to  go  after  his  wife.  But  the  more 
destitute  settlers  borrowed  all  his  meal,  so  that  he 
was  compelled  to  live  for  some  time  after  he  re- 
turned, on  pounded  corn,  of  which  they  made  hom- 
mony  and  coarse  bread,  till  the  river  became  passa- 
ble on  the  ice,  so  that  he  could  go  to  mill. 

During  this  year,  Oliver  Wilson  settled  where 
Levi  Cutler  now  lives;  but  he  afterwards  removed 
to  Sandy  river,  and  the  lot  was  given  to  Rev.  Eze- 


64  THE    HISTORY   OF 

kiel  Emerson,  who  lived  on  it  four  years.  George 
Gray  settled  at  the  upper  part  of  the  town,  and 
afterwards  removed  to  Starks.  Benjamin  Thomp- 
son, who  lived  a  hermit,  dying  in  old  age,  unmar- 
ried, settled  on  the  lot  now  owned  by  Charles 
Norton,  opposite  J.  S.  Abbott's.  Moses  Martin  set- 
tled on  the  lot  now  owned  by  Nathan  Wood.  He 
afterwards  removed  to  Sabasticook,  where  he  is  still 
living. 

In  1778,  Eleazer  Spaulding,  a  member  of  the 
committee  of  the  home  government,  removed  here 
with  his  four  sons,  Eleazer,  Josiah,  John  and  Seth. 
He  acted  as  a  resident  agent  for  the  settlers,  and 
gave  them  much  assistance  in  establishing  their 
claims  to  obtain  deeds,  when  they  had  performed 
settling  duties.  The  proprietors  had  full  confidence 
in  him  as  an  agent,  and  gave  him  the  first  lot  above 
Skowhegan  Falls,  without  requiring  settling  duties, 
to  reward  him  for  his  services.  Having  sold  this 
lot  to  Daniel  Steward,  he  settled  with  his  son  Elea- 
zer, on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Sewall  Nutting. 
His  son,  Josiah  Spaulding,  settled  on  the  lot  where 
he  now  lives.  He  has  been  long  known  as  a  wor- 
thy citizen,  and  after  the  incorporation  of  the  town, 
till  age  began  to  impair  his  usefulness,  he  was  one 
of  the  principal  men  in  the  place.  He  has  served 
as  selectman,  nineteen  years,  and  as  representative 
to  the  Massachusetts  Legislature.  Still  retaining 
his  faculties  to  a  remarkable  degree,  he  is  always 
pleasant,  mild  and  social,  enjoying  the  smiles  of 
Providence,  and  the  bounty  of  the  government,  as 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  65 

a  pensioner,  having  served  his  country  part  of  two 
years  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  before  he  came  to 
this  place.  He  is  now  eighty-eight  years  old. 
John  Spaulding  settled  on  the  lot  now  occupied  by 
Robert  Richards,  which  was  first  taken  up  by  Oli- 
ver Coburn,  and  occupied  by  Abraham  Moore,  who 
removed  to  part  of  the  Nutting  lot,  and  thence  to 
Piscataquis.  Mr.  Spaulding  lived  on  the  lot  about 
twenty  years,  before  he  removed.  Seth  Spaulding 
settled  on  the  lot  above  the  Turner  brook,  where 
he  lived  some  twenty  years,  and  then  removed. 
Eleazer  Spaulding,  Jr.,  also  removed  to  Piscataquis, 
after  the  death  of  his  father.  During  this  year,  John 
Paine  settled  on  lot  No.  77,  called  the  Gould  lot, 
and  his  son,  William  Paine,  settled  on  the  Dinsmore 
lot  No.  76,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river. 

In  1779,  William  Spaulding  settled  on  lot,  No. 
75,  below  the  village,  and  his  son,  William  Spaul- 
ding, Esq.,  settled  on  lot  No.  71,  where  he  lived  to 
old  age.  When  he  first  arrived,  he  could  not  obtain 
a  potato  to  plant  nearer  than  James  Waugh's,  at 
Little  Norridgewock,  a  distance  of  ten  miles  by  the 
river.  He  borrowed  a  canoe  to  go  after  a  few 
bushels,  and  had  a  hard  day's  work  to  get  there, 
dragging  his  heavy  canoe  over  Bombazee  falls 
alone.  He  could  obtain  but  three  bushels,  for 
which  he  agreed  to  give  three  days'  work  at  hay- 
ing. When  he  returned  to  the  ferry  with  his  pota- 
toes, he  consented  to  let  Mr.  Clark  have  one  bushel, 
on  condition  that  he  should  help  dig  them  in  the 
fall,  and  give  him  half.      This  bushel  of  potatoes 


66  THE    HISTORY    OF 

was  planted  where  the  Sawtelle  house  now  stands, 
in  the  village,  and  produced  a  noble  crop.  Spaul- 
ding's  half  furnished  him  with  seed  the  next  year ; 
he  never  failed,  afterwards,  to  raise  a  good  supply, 
as  long  as  he  was  able  to  labor,  and  always  had  po- 
tatoes to  sell.  He  was  a  stout,  energetic  man, 
made  a  good  farm,  raised  up  a  large  family,  sus- 
tained several  important  offices  in  the  town,  county 
and  State,  the  duties  of  which  he  discharged  with 
fidelity,  accumulated  a  good  estate,  and  died,  Dec. 
1844,  at  the  advanced  age  of  87. 

About  this  time,  Maj.  Zephania  Keith  settled  on 
part  of  the  Nutting  lot.  He  was  considerably  ad- 
vanced in  life,  a  man  of  intelligence,  and  much 
respected.  One  of  his  sons  had  been  an  officer  in 
the  army,  and  after  the  war,  was  an  Adjutant  Gen- 
eral in  the  Massachusetts  militia.  He  had  four 
other  sons,  who  lived  in  this  place  many  years,  but 
having  been  brought  up  as  workmen  in  the  iron 
works  at  Easton  and  Bridgewater,  Mass.,  and  un- 
accustomed to  the  toils  and  privations  of  new 
settlers,  none  of  the  family  succeeded  so  as  to  be- 
come permanent  residents.  The  father,  Maj.  Keith? 
was  one  of  the  selectmen  first  chosen,  but  the  fam- 
ily all  left  the  town  soon  after.  Scott  Keith,  one  of 
the  sons,  attempted  to  trade,  being  the  first  trader 
in  the  place.  He  built  for  this  purpose  a  log  house, 
on  the  intervale  above  Bombazee  rips,  procured  a 
few  articles  of  merchandise,  and,  among  other 
things,  a  barrel  of  rum,  at  Hallowell,  and  employed 
an  active,  resolute  young  man  to  go  after  his  goods 


ttORRIDGEWOCK.  67 

with  a  canoe.  His  man  succeeded  in.  getting  up 
the  river,  with  trifling  assistance,  to  the  place  where 
Kendall's  mills  now  are,  and  then  employed  a  skill- 
ful boatman  to  assist  him  up  the  rips,  and  over  the 
falls.  They  then  took  the  middle  of  the  river,  in- 
stead of  warping  the  boat  along  the  shore,  as  was 
customary,  till  they  arrived  at  Skowhegan  falls, 
without  landing.  Ascending  the  narrows  below 
the  falls,  where  the  river,  compressed  to  one  half  its 
usual  width,  is  bounded  by  perpendicular  precipices 
on  each  side,  for  more  than  half  a  mile,  they  landed 
without  accident,  and  warped  their  canoe,  without 
unloading,  up  the  south  channel,  and  over  the  falls. 
They  soon  arrived  at  Bombazee  falls,  where  they 
at  first  hesitated,  but  decided  to  trust  to  their  pad- 
dles, and  with  unparalleled  efforts  went  up  the 
middle  channel,  a  fall  of  six  feet,  without  accident, 
where  a  single  mis-stroke  of  the  paddle  would  have 
capsized  them,  and  landed  the  rum  and  other  mer- 
chandise in  safety  at  the  trader's  camp.  This  feat 
is  narrated  as  a  specimen  of  the  risk,  toil  and  ex- 
posure of  life,  in  getting  up  and  down  the  river  by 
water.  A  witness  of  this  exploit  is  still  living. 
Mr.  Keith,  not  having  so  much  skill  and  persever- 
ance as  his  boatmen  had  exhibited,  soon  failed. 

In  1780,  Major  John  Moore,  who  had  been  an 
officer  in  the  army,  came  to  this  place  in  his  uni- 
form, with  epaulettes  and  insignia  of  rank,  and 
excited  considerable  attention  by  his  dress  and  ad- 
dress. He  had  four  sons,  who  came  with  him. 
Having  lost  his  wife,  he  married  Mrs.  Weston,  the 


68 


THE   HISTORY    OF 


widow  of  Joseph  Weston,  the  first  settler  in  Ca- 
naan, and  settled  on  the  lot  where  Reuel  Weston 
now  lives.  He  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary- 
talents,  was  respected  for  his  intelligence  and  activ- 
ity, and  was  a  useful  citizen.  A  financial  report  of 
the  town  affairs,  in  1791,  was  drawn  up  by  him,  in 
a  correct,  business-like  manner,  and  remains  on  the 
files  of  the  town  papers.  When  the  militia  in  the 
vicinity  was  organized,  he  was  chosen  Colonel,  and 
was  esteemed  as  an  officer  and  a  gentleman.  He 
purchased  a  large  lot,  on  which  North  Anson  vil- 
lage is  situated,  and  removed  there.  His  brother, 
Benjamin  Moore,  settled  on  the  lot  now  owned  by 
John  G.  Neil.  He  too  was  a  soldier,  and  afterwards 
a  pensioner.  His  son,  Goff  Moore,  who  is  still  liv- 
ing, bought  out  John  Heald,  who  had  settled  on 
the  Currier  lot,  where  he  lived  till  1795 ;  then  he 
exchanged  with  Lovell  Fairbrother,  for  a  farm  in 
Madison,  where  he  now  resides,  a  Revolutionary 
pensioner.  Fairbrother  having  lived  at  Madison 
several  years,  by  this  exchange  became  again  a 
citizen  of  this  town.  He  raised  up  a  large  family, 
but  one  of  whom  is  now  living.  He  was  for  a  long 
time  called  Governor  Fairbrother. 

Abraham  Moore,  an  active,  intelligent  man,  set- 
tled first  on  the  Nutting  lot,  then  removed  to  the 
Richards  lot,  and  from  thence,  many  years  ago,  he 
removed  to  Abbott,  where  he  died.  John  and  Joseph 
Moore,  the  Major's  other  sons,  lived  here  with  their 
father  many  years,  removed  to  Anson,  and  are  both 
dead.     They  were  the  principal  men  of  that  town, 


NOR  RIDGE  WOCK. 


69 


for  many  years.  One  of  them  was  a  Representa- 
tive, Senator,  and  an  Elector  of  President,  during 
the  active  period  of  his  life.  Obadiah  Witherell, 
who  had  been  a  Lieutenant  in  the  army,  came  to 
this  place  in  his  regimentals,  about  the  same  time 
as  Major  Moore.  He  was  an  active,  enterprising 
young  man,  was  married  soon  after  he  came  here, 
and  settled  upon  the  back  road,  where  he  made  him 
a  good  farm.  He,  too,  afterwards  became  a  Major 
in  the  militia,  and  was  an  active,  intelligent  officer. 
He  was  several  times  one  of  the  selectmen  of  the 
town.  As  a  pensioner,  he  received  under  the  dif- 
ferent pension  acts,  money  and  land  to  the  amount 
of  five  thousand  dollars,  before  he  died.  At  the 
latter  part  of  his  life  he  removed  to  Albion,  where 
he  died,  at  the. advanced  age  of  ninety-eight  years. 
This  year,  John  Laughton  settled  on  lot  No.  70. 
He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  a  useful  man. 
He  volunteered  to  assist  in  building  a  house  for  the 
first  minister  in  Norridgewock.  Joseph  Vickerie, 
about  the  same  time,  settled  on  lot  No.  75,  on  which 
William  Spaulding,  Senior,  lived,  one  of  whose 
daughters  he  married.  He  was  an  excellent  car- 
penter and  house-joiner,  and  worked  at  his  trade 
till  old  age.  He  was  the  principal  workman  on  all 
the  houses  built  for  thirty  or  forty  years.  Samuel 
Richards,  who  had  been  an  officer  in  the  army,  set- 
tled on  the  back  road  about  this  time.  He  was  a 
resolute  person,  and  one  of  his  sons  is  still  living  in 
this  town.  Josiah  Warren,  Jonas  Tarbell,  Joseph 
Tarbell,  Amos  Shed,  Nathaniel,  William,  Luke  and 


70 


THE    HISTORY   OF 


Uzziel  Withee,  Amos  Adams,  Samuel  Nutting,  John 
Smith,  James  and  Hugh  Thompson,  and  Samuel 
Patten,  all  settled  about  this  time  in  the  northeast 
part  of  the  town,  on  lots  marked  E,  F,  G,  H,  I„ 
K,  L,  and  M,  and  on  the  back  end  of  the  front 
lots. 

In  1781,  Deacon  Longley  and  sons  settled  on  lots 
C  and  D.  Levi  Sampson  and  Charles  Witherell, 
on  lots  A  and  B.  Benjamin  Witham,  on  lot  No. 
80,  west  of  the  river.  Thomas  Cook,  on  lot  No, 
79.  John  Cook,  on  No.  78.  Thomas  Whitcomb 
and  Moriah  Gould,  on  lots  Nos.  71  and  72.  David 
and  Simon  Pierce,  on  lots  Nos.  68  and  69,  south  of 
the  river.  Doct.  Gilman  settled  where  Josiah  But- 
ler, Esq.  now  lives.  Peter  Farnsworth,  on  the  lot 
where  his  son,  William  Farnsworth,  now  lives. 
Isaac  Kidder,  where  his  son,  Isaac  Kidder,  lives. 
Peter  Gilman,  on  the  lot  adjoining  Mr.  Kidder's. 
John  Squier,  John  Rogers  and  David  Lancaster,  on 
the  river  road,  below  Mr.  Farnsworth's.  All  about 
the  close  of  the  war. 

The  mill  lot  was  first  taken  up  by  Walker,  in 
1775 ;  but  being  unable  to  build  mills,  it  was,  in 
1776,  given  up  to  Timothy  Heald,  who  then  lived 
in  Winslow.  He  commenced  building  mills,  but 
did  not  get  them  in  operation  till  late  in  1778.  He 
then  removed  his  family ;  and  his  son,  the  late  Josi- 
ah Heald,  was  long  known  as  the  miller.  The 
father  did  not  live  long  after  his  removal  to  this 
place.  One  of  his  sons,  Thomas  Heald,  is  still  liv- 
ing, a  Revolutionary  pensioner. 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  71 

Jonathan  Robbins  settled  first  in  Canaan,  and 
after  this  town  was  incorporated,  he  purchased 
lands  in  three  or  four  different  places  in  the  town. 
He  lived  several  years  on  the  lot  where  John  S. 
Abbott  now  lives,  and  then  removed  to  Oak  Hill. 
He  was  a  resolute,  persevering  man,  sustained  a 
good  reputation,  was  at  first  a  member  of  the  Con- 
gregational church,  and  afterwards  a  Baptist.  He 
lived  to  old  age,  respected  for  strict  integrity.  Sev- 
eral others  resided  but  a  short  time  in  the  place,  and 
then  removed  higher  up  the  river,  or  made  ex- 
changes, so  that  the  times  and  places  of  their  resi- 
dence are  not  known  with  certainty. 

Notwithstanding  the  hardships,  privations  and 
exposures  of  the  first  settlers  in  a  new  place,  they 
have  much  to  animate  and  encourage  them,  which 
none  but  those  who  have  been  partakers  in  like 
scenes  can  fully  appreciate.  The  hope  of  obtain- 
ing a  freehold  on  which  they  can  support  their  ris- 
ing family,  cheers  on  those  who  have  been  compelled 
to  work  on  hire  for  their  daily  bread.  The  process 
of  eutting  down  trees,  and  clearing  the  land,  is  in 
itself  delightful.  When  the  first  tree  is  fallen,  the 
axeman  can  look  up  through  the  opening,  as 
through  a  window  in  the  forest,  and  see  the  blue 
sky.  As  he  enlarges  the  space,  the  view  is  extend- 
ed, until  he  looks  out  on  the  surrounding  hills,  and 
sees  where  others,  in  like  manner,  are  beginning,  or 
may  soon  commence,  the  work  of  clearing.  When 
the  trees  are  sufficiently  dry  to  apply  the  fire,  the 
burning  of  his  "cot  down"  furnishes  a  splendid 


72 


THE    HISTORY   OP 


display  of  fire-works.     If  he  gets  a  good  burtij  the 
change  in  the  appearance  of  his  lot  is  striking,  and 
but  little  labor  is  required  to  prepare  the  field  for 
planting.     A  good  crop  of  corn  is  obtained  without 
weeding,  and  without  clearing  off  the  half-burnt 
logs.     At  harvest,  he  views  his  crops  with  satisfac- 
tion, and  makes  preparation  for  sowing  his  field 
with  wheat,  by  piling  up  the  logs  and  burning  them 
upon  the   ground.      Every  blow  he  strikes,   and 
every  log  he  consumes  leaves  marks  of  improve- 
ment.    And  when  his  new  fields  of  corn  and  wheat 
furnish  a  supply  for  the  wants  of  his  family,  as  they 
generally  do  the  second  year,  the  sight  of  his  wav- 
ing grain  and  golden  ears  sends  a  thrill  of  gratitude 
to  his  heart.     His  log  cabin  has  been  made  so  as  to 
exclude  the  rain  and  the  cold,  and  is  made  comfort- 
able by  the  large  fire  of  wood,  which  costs  nothing. 
On  a  winter  evening,  he  can  enjoy  his  family  circle, 
around  the  fire,  and  sleep  as  warm  as  in  a  ceiled 
house.     To  be  sure,   the  food  of   the  pioneer  is 
coarse,  and  sometimes  scanty.      But  his  appetite, 
sharpened  by  labor  and  the  salubrity  of  the  forest, 
gives  him  a  relish  for  his  simple  fare,  that  the  epi- 
cure never  enjoys ;  and  if  his  allowance,  at  present, 
is  short,  he  can  look  forward  with  confidence,  as 
his  field  is  every  year  enlarging,  that  his  wants  will 
soon  be  supplied.     If  neighbors  are  few  and  far  be- 
tween, whenever  they  do  see  each  other,  they  enjoy 
the   interview  with  heartfelt  satisfaction.      Thus 
they  enjoy  much  to  recompense  them  for  their  toil 
and  hardship. 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  73 

Many  who  commence  with  nothing,  in  a  short 
time  acquire  a  competency,  and  accumulate  a  good 
estate.     They  raise  up  large  families,  live  comfort- 
ably to  old   age,  on  good  farms,  with  everything 
convenient  about  them,  honored  and  esteemed  by 
their  fellow  citizens,  and  die  in  the  faith,  with  the 
hope  of  a  better  state  beyond  the  grave.      The  no- 
ble-spirited women  who  first  penetrated  the  forests 
of  the  Kennebeck  with  their  husbands,    were   as 
much  gratified  on  their  arrival  at  their  log  cabins, 
with  the  prospects  and  scenery  around  them,  as  a 
village  belle  would  be,  on  her  marriage,   when  re- 
moving to  the  splendid  mansion  of  an  only  son, 
inheriting  a  large  estate,   with  all  the  equipage  of 
luxury  and  ease.     Many  now  living  have   heard 
their  mothers  tell  of  the  comfort  they  enjoyed  in 
their  new  log  house,  when  their  little  clearing  pro- 
duced a  supply  of  good  corn,  wheat  and  vegetables. 
Their  cows,  which  ran  in  the  woods  in  the  summer, 
and  were  kept  on  meadow  hay  and  corn-stalks  in 
the  winter,  supplied  them  with  milk   and  butter. 
They  could  raise  their  own  pork.     The  surrounding 
maples  furnished  them  with  sugar;  the  river  afford- 
ed fish,  and  the  forest  game.     They  were  then  as 
contented  and  happy  as  in  after  life,  when  their 
goods  were  increased,  so  that  they  lived  in  afflu- 
ence, in  a  good  farm-house,  with  barns,  herds  of 
cattle,  flocks  of  sheep,  and  everything  in  abundance. 
The  boys  enjoyed  the  sport,  in  hunting  small  game 
and  partridges.     One  family  killed  sixty  partridges 
7* 


74  THE   HISTORY   OF   NORRIDGEWOCK. 

the  first  winter  they  lived  in  the  woods,  which  f m  > 
nished  them  with  many  a  good  dinner. 

No  prudent  man  removed  his  family,  till  he  had 
made  preparation,  by  felling  five  or  six  acres  ol 
trees,  and  having  them  burnt  over,  so  that  he  could 
raise  a  crop  of  corn,  the  season  when  he  removed. 
The  trees  should  be  cut  about  the  last  of  June ;  the 
limbs  and  small  branches  dry  so  as  to  burn  better 
than  if  cut  at  any  other  time.  A  good  crop  cannot 
be  expected,  if  the  opening  be  less  than  four  or  five 
acres.  To  fell  five  acres  requires  two  weeks  work; 
nothing  more  is  necessary  to  be  done,  until  the 
trees  are  dry  enough  to  burn  the  next  spring.  The 
first  dry  week  in  May  should  be  improved  in  burn- 
ing, and  the  ground  may  then  be  planted,  a  log 
house  built,  and  the  family  removed,  so  as  to  be 
there  at  harvest.  Those  who  pursued  this  course, 
among  our  first  settlers,  hardly  ever  failed  of  suc- 
cess; but  those  who  came  with  their  families,  with- 
out having  made  any  preparation,  were  subjected 
to  much  want  and  hardship.  The  land  which  is 
the  most  easily  cleared,  dry,  and  of  hard  wood 
growth,  is  the  most  profitable  for  a  beginning. 

All  lived  in  log  cabins,  until  a  saw-mill  was  put 
in  operation;  and  then  they  generally  found  it 
necessary  to  build  a  barn  before  they  built  a  house, 
in  order  to  secure  their  crops.  A  log  house,  when 
well  built,  could  be  made  quite  comfortable. 


CHAPTER    V 


Arnold's  March  through  Norridgewock,  Parlin  enlists,  Extract 
from  the  Journal  of  Dr.  Senter,  Parlin  is  taken  prisoner,  Fear 
of  Indians,  Guard,  False  Alarm,  Sufferings  of  Hunters,  Hard- 
ships and  Exposures,  Death  of  Walton  and  Wood,  Sufferings 
of  Forbes  and  family,  Improved  condition  of  Settlers,  Taxes 
by  Winslow,  Law-suits,  Incorporation  of  the  town. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  Revolutionary  war, 
Gen.  Arnold  was  ordered  to  march  a  detachment  of 
the  American  forces  to  Quebec,  by  way  of  the  Ken- 
nebeck,  and,  if  possible,  to  make  himself  master  of 
that  city.  The  detachment  consisted  of  ten  com- 
panies of  infantry  belonging  to  New  England,  and 
three  companies  of  riflemen  from  Virginia  and 
Pennsylvania,  amounting  to  about  eleven  hundred 
men.  The  first  of  October,  1775,  the  army  passed 
through  Norridgewock,  with  their  artillery  and 
stores.  The  General  stopped  at  Thomas  Farring- 
ton's,  where  he  saw  the  first  child  born  of  English 
parents  in  the  place;  this  was  Abel  Farrington, 
then  fourteen  months  old.  The  mother  died  soon 
after,  and  was  buried  near  the  river,  on  the  Parlin 


76  THE   HISTORY   OF 

farm.  The  General  also  spent  one  night  at  Lovell 
Fairbrother's.  The  settlers  volunteered  to  assist  in 
getting  the  boats,  artillery  and  stores  over  Norridge- 
wock  falls ;  James  Waugh,  Esq.,  assisted  with  his 
oxen  —  there  were  then  no  other  oxen  in  the  settle- 
ment. Nathan  Parlin  enlisted  as  a  boatman,  and 
went  through  to  Canada. 

Extract  from  the  Journal  of  Isaac  Senter,  Physician 
and  Surgeon  in  ArnoloVs  detachment.* 

"  Wednesday,  [Oct.}  4. — As  the  rapids  [of  TFas- 
sarunskeig]  afforded  but  a  tedious  route  of  three 
miles  by  water  round,  I  chose  rather  to  take  the 
advantage  of  the  carrying  places,  which  was  two 
and  a  half  miles  only ;  accordingly  I  had  boat  and 
baggage  carried  over  by  land  to  the  foot  of  the 
falls,  where  we  were  obliged  to  put  in  and  cross 
over  the  opposite  side,  ere  we  could  carry  by  the 
falls.  These  were  a  very  high  water  fall,  and  ex- 
ceeding difficult  carrying  by.  After  backing  all  the 
boats,  provisions,  camp  equipage,  &c.,  over,  we 
again  advanced  up  the  river.  Not  far  had  we  ad- 
vanced, ere  we  came  to  a  fall  called  Scunkhegon. 
With  a  great  deal  of  difficulty  we  passed  this,  but 
not  without  coming  very  nigh  losing  one  of  my 
hands.  After  passing  these,  I  proceeded  about  half 
a  mile  and  tented. 

"  Thursday,  5. — We  were  now  within  about  four 
and  a  half  miles  of  Norrigewalk,  where  I  left  the 

*  Published  by  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania, 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  77 

charge  of  my  batteaux  to  my  lads,  and  proceeded 
up  the  river  by  land,  till  within  about  half  a  mile, 
where  I  contracted  with  a  couple  of  savages  who 
followed  the  army,  to  take  charge  of*  the  boat,  in 
consequence  of  the  water  growing  exceeding  rapid. 
They  conducted  her  safe  to  the  foot  of  the  Norrige- 
walk  fall,  where  they  were  (that  is,  the  batteaux) 
all  hauled  up.  We  had  now  a  number  of  teams 
employed  in  conveying  the  batteaux,  provisions? 
camp  equipage,  &c,  over  this  carrying  place.  By 
this  time,  many  of  our  batteaux  were  nothing  but 
wrecks,  some  stove  to  pieces,  &c.  The  carpenters 
were  employed  in  repairing  them,  while  the  rest  of 
the  army  were  busy  in  carrying  over  the  provisions, 
&c.  A  quantity  of  dry  cod  fish,  by  this  time  was 
received,  as  likewise  a  number  of  barrels  of  dry 
bread.  The  fish  lying  loose  in  the  batteaux,  and 
being  continually  washed  with  the  fresh  water  run- 
ning into  the  batteaux.  The  bread  casks  not  being 
water-proof,  admitted  the  water  in  plenty,  swelled 
the  bread,  burst  the  casks,  as  well  as  soured  the 
whole  bread.  The  same  fate  attended  a  number  of 
fine  casks  of  peas.  These  with  the  others  were 
condemned.  We  were  now  curtailed  of  a  very 
valuable  and  large  part  of  our  provisions,  ere  we 
had  entered  the  wilderness,  or  left  the  inhabitants. 
Our  fare  was  now  reduced  to  salt  pork  and  flour. 
Beef  we  had  now  and  then,  when  we  could 
purchase  a  fat  creature,  but  that  was  seldom.  A 
few  barrels  of  salt  beef  remained  on  hand,  but  of 
so  indifferent  quality,  as  scarce  to  be  eaten,  being 


78  THE   HISTORY   OF 

killed  in  the  heat  of  summer,  took  much  damage 
after  salting,  that  rendered  it  not  only  very  un- 
wholesome, but  very  unpalatable. 

"Friday,  6th. — Several  of  our  army  continued 
to  be  troubled  with  the  dysentery,  of  which  disease, 
Capt.  Williams,  a  gentleman  from  Connecticut, 
came  nigh  to  lose  his  life.  Continued  getting  over 
provisions,  &c.  Weather  mostly  cloudy,  and  con- 
siderable rain. 

"Saturday,  7th. — We  were  still  at  Norrigewalk, 
where  was  now  most  of  the  army.  By  a  council 
of  the  officers,  it  was  thought  advisable  to  send  let- 
ters into  Quebec,  informing  some  gentlemen  of  that 
city  of  our  movements,  to.  After  the  despatches 
were  wrote,  it  was  concluded  to  send  one  Mr.  Jack- 
quith,  inhabitant  of  this  river  and  native  of  Ger- 
many, who  spoke  the  French  language,  in  company 
with  two  Penobscot  Indians,  by  name  Sabattis  and 
Enneos,*  who  were  well  acquainted  with  the  wil- 
derness through,  as  well  as  the  inhabitants  of  the 
country  where  they  were  going.  Accordingly  they 
were  despatched  in  a  bark  canoe,  taking  a  sufficient 
quantity  of  provisions  for  the  purpose. 

"Sunday,  8th. — Our  provisions  were  now  all 
over,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  inclemency  of  the 
weather,  we  should  [have]  decampt,  No  occur-? 
rences  of  note  this  day. 

"  Monday,  9th. — Early  this  morn  we  were  all  in 
motion,  and  bid  good  bye  to  old  Norrigewalk.     I 

*  Henry's  Campaign,  pp.  32  to  35. 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  79 

ordered  my  lads  on  board  of  the  batteaux,  and  took 
foot  bail.  We  proceeded  up  the  river  to  the  7  mile 
stream,  so  called,  which  was  about  six  miles  from 
our  last  stage.  Swift  current — made  but  poor 
speed — exceeding  load.  After  coming  to  the  7 
mile  stream,  I  betook  myself  to  my  boat,  and  con- 
tinued our  progress  about  three  miles  further,  where 
we  encamped.     Much  indisposed  this  day." 

The  detachment  suffered  severely  for  want  of 
provisions,  on  their  way  through  the  wilderness. 
From  Dead  river,  Col.  Enos  returned  with  the  sick 
and  the  whole  rear  division  of  the  army,  in  order 
to  avoid  the  horrors  of  famine.  They  had  but 
three  days'  provision,  when  they  set  out  to  return. 
The  rest  of  the  detachment  pressed  on  through 
dangers  and  sufferings.  Having  consumed  their 
provisions,  they  fed  upon  roots  or  anything  that 
could  appease  the  cravings  of  hunger.  The  late 
Gen.  Dearborn  was  a  captain  in  the  expedition,  and 
shared  with  the  others  in  the  privations  of  the 
march.  He  had  a  large  dog,  which  was  a  great 
favorite;  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  one  of  the 
companies,  he  gave  him  up  to  them.  They  killed 
the  dog,  and  divided  him  among  those  who  were 
suffering  most  severely.  Every  part  was  eaten. 
They  collected  the  bones,  after  finishing  their  meal, 
and  carried  them  to  be  pounded  up  for  another  re- 
past. Some  washed  their  moccasins  of  moose 
skin,  and  boiled  them  to  obtain  a  little  nutriment 


80 


THE   HISTORY   OF 


and  many  died  of  fatigue  and  hunger,  before  they 
reached  the  settlements  in  Canada.  The  expedi- 
tion failed  of  success.  Parlin  was  taken  a  prisoner 
with  others  at  Quebec.  The  next  year  he  was 
exchanged,  and  returned  by  way  of  Albany.  After 
the  failure  of  the  expedition,  the  Canadians  who 
before  had  appeared  friendly  and  disposed  to  aid 
our  cause,  became  cautious  and  hostile. 

During  the  winter  of  1776,  Roger  Chase  and  a 
Mr.  Noble,  two  hunters  belonging  on  the  Kenne- 
beck,  were  taken  prisoners  by  Canadian  hunters 
and  Indians,  who  carried  them  to  Quebec;  but 
they  were  discharged  after  an  examination  before 
the  English  officers.  Our  people  thereupon  became 
alarmed,  for  fear  of  an  incursion  of  the  Indians, 
and  proceeded  to  fortify  themselves.  They  built 
a  block  house,  adjoining  Mr.  Fletcher's  dwelling 
house;  both  of  these  buildings  were  enclosed  with 
posts  eight  feet  high,  set  in  the  ground.  To  this 
place  all  the  women  and  children  living  within 
four  miles  were  removed.  A  regular  volunteer 
guard  was  organised  to  keep  watch  in  the  night 
time,  during  the  summer  of  1776.  The  families 
who  lived  remote  from  the  block  house  were  re- 
moved to  places  of  safety,  down  the  river,  where 
they  remained  that  summer,  returned  and  spent 
the  winter,  and  were  again  removed  in  the  sum- 
mer following.  In  June,  1777,  the  Legislature 
made  provision  for  a  guard.  Col.  William  Howard 
isssued  this  warrant  and  enlisting  order : 


NORRIDGEWOCK. 


81 


"  To  Mr.  James  Wcnigh,  of  a  place  called  Nor- 
ridgeivock,  on  Kennebeck  river  : — 

"  By  virtue  of  the  power  in  me  vested  by  the 
Great  and  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  Bay, 
per  their  Resolve,  dated  June  28,  1777,  I  appoint 
you,  the  said  James  Waugh,  to  be  sergeant  and 
commander  of  a  party  of  six  men,  including  your- 
self, to  be  employed  in  scouting  up  the  Kennebeck 
river,  from  the  date  hereof  until  the  first  day  of 
December,  unless  sooner  discharged,  and  they  are 
hereby  commanded  to  obey  you  in  all  your  lawful 
commands ;  and  you  are  likewise  to  obey  the  orders 
you  shall  from  time  to  time  receive  from  me. 

11  Given  under  my  hand  and  seal,  at  Hallowell, 
this  second  day  of  August,  A.  D.  1777. 

"William  Howard,  L.  Col."  . 

ENLISTMENT. 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  do  hereby  severally  enlist 
ourselves  into  the  service  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  to 
continue  in  that  service  from  the  date  hereof  till  the 
first  day  of  December  next,  unless  sooner  dis- 
charged; for  which  we  are  each  of  us  to  be  allowed 
and  paid  out  of  the  public  treasury  of  said  State, 
forty  shillings  per  calendar  month,  also  six  shillings 
per  week  each,  for  our  subsistence;  and  we  promise 
faithfully  to  obey  all  such  orders  as  we  shall  from 
time  to  time  receive  from  our  officers. 

"  Nathan   Parlin,    George   Gray,    John  Heald, 
Luke  Sawyer,  Oliver  Wilson." 
8 


82  THE   HISTORY    OF 

Mr.  Waugh  kept  a  regular  journal  of  their  ser- 
vices. They  went  up  the  river  to  the  carrying 
place  several  times,  but  they  discovered  no  enemy. 
Part  of  the  guard  were  employed  at  the  block 
house,  and  at  the  expiration  of  their  term  of  enlist- 
ment, they  were  discharged. 

The  fear  of  the  Indians  did  not  wholly  subside 
for  a  year  afterwards.  Several  settlers  had  com- 
menced an  establishment  at  Seven  Mile  Brook,  (so 
called,  being  seven  miles  above  Old  Point.)  Some 
time  having  elapsed  without  any  tidings  from  this 
settlement,  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  and  Ca- 
naan were  alarmed  for  their  safety,  as  several  In- 
dian hunters  were  known  to  be  up  the  river.  A 
meeting  was  called,  and  it  was  resolved  to  send  a 
delegation  to  see  if  there  was  any  cause  of  alarm. 
Samuel  Weston  and  Isaac  Smith,  of  Canaan,  and 
Oliver  Wilson,  of  Norridgewockj  volunteered  to  go# 
They  went  up  the  river  in  a  canoe,  proceeding 
cautiously  as  they  approached  their  place  of  destin- 
ation, and  when  they  came  to  the  bend  of  the  river 
nearly  opposite  the  mouth  of  Seven  Mile  Brook, 
they  thought  it  more  prudent  for  Weston  and  Smith 
to  leave  the  canoe,  and  approach  by  land  under 
cover  of  the  trees  and  bushes,  all  agreeing  not  to 
fire  a  gun,  unless  they  saw  Indians.  In  a  few  mo- 
ments after  they  separated,  Wilson  discovered  a 
bear  in  the  river,  and  regardless  of  the  order  of  the 
day,  fired  at  him,  thinking  he  could  call  to  his 
comrades  and  let  them  know  the  cause  of  his  firing. 
Alarmed  at   the   report  of  the   gun,    and   hearing 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  83 

Wilson  call  to  them,  they  concluded  that  he  was 
attacked,  if  not  mortally  wounded  by  the  Indians, 
and  without  stopping  to  ascertain  the  truth,  they 
fled  in  a  direct  line,  through  the  woods,  to  the  set- 
tlement in  this  place.  Alarm  was  given,  and  a 
council  held,  when  a  messenger  was  forthwith 
despatched  to  Pownalborough,  near  sixty  miles,  to 
Gen.  Lithgow  for  aid — assuring  him  that  they 
were  in  momentary  apprehension  of  being  all  de- 
stroyed-by  the  Indians.  The  General  ordered  out 
his  regiment,  and  some  men  had  actually  com- 
menced their  march  before  the  cause  of  the  alarm 
was  ascertained.  Mr.  Clark  dissented  from  the 
other  members  of  the  council,  and  advised  them  to 
wait  till  they  knew  more  about  the  case,  be- 
fore they  sent  for  help.  He  volunteered  to  go  and 
find  Wilson,  and  went  alone  as  far  as  Old  Point, 
where  he  found  Wilson  safe,  and  learned  that  their 
friends  at  Seven  Mile  Brook  had  not  been  molested. 
This  farce  proved  so  ridiculous,  that  the  principal 
actors  were  heartily  ashamed  of  their  alarm.  Mr. 
Smith,  when  over  eighty  years  of  age,  was  unwil- 
ling to  own  that  he  was  much  frightened.  No 
serious  apprehensions  of  danger  from  the  Indians 
were  entertained  after  this.  But  during  this  period 
of  alarm,  the  settlers  suffered  much  from  their  fears. 
Mrs.  Waugh,  the  widow  of  the  first  settler  at  Little 
Norridgewock,  stated  a  few  years  since  that  the  fear 
of  Indians,  when  with  her  child  she  was  carried,  in 
a  canoe  to  Vassalborough,  in  1776,  and  with  two 
children,  in  1777,  and  when,  in  1778,  she  remained 


84  THE   HISTORY    OF 

at  their  log  cabin,  exceeded  all  other  sufferings  and 
hardships  she  endured  during  those  years,  when 
their  cabin  was  the  only  habitation  at  Little  Nor- 
ridgewock. 

Provisions  were  obtained  with  much  difficulty  by 
the  new  settlers,  for  many  years.  No  regular  sup- 
ply could  be  obtained  nearer  than  Hallowell ;  and 
from  that  place  only  by  canoes  and  hand-sleds,  or 
by  packmen.  To  supply  their  deficiency,  the 
moose  was  hunted,  from  Moosehead  Lake  to  Mount 
Abram  and  the  Blue  Mountain,  a  circuit  of  sixty 
miles,  and  at  the  distance  of  forty  miles  from  any 
inhabitants.  Hunting  parties  were  frequently  ab- 
sent three  weeks.  A  single  instance  will  give  some 
idea  of  the  fatigue  of  hunting.  In  the  cold  winter 
of  1781,  a  party  killed  several  moose  on  Blue 
Mountain,  about  fifty  miles  distant,  and  came  for 
help  to  bring  home  the  meat,  which  they  had  de- 
posited in  the  snow.  William  Spaulding,  Esq.. 
then  an  athletic  young  man,  with  three  others, 
went  on  snow-shoes,  with  hand-sleds,  to  bring  in  the 
game.  They  went  up  the  river  on  the  ice  to  Old 
Point,  thence  up  the  windings  of  Sandy  river  to 
Meseccontee,  now  Farmington  Falls,  thence  up 
Wilson's  stream  to  the  ponds  at  its  source,  over  the 
ponds  and  hills  to  the  place  of  deposit.  They  found 
the  meat  in  good  condition,  and  each  took  from  two 
to  three  hundred  pounds  on  his  sled,  and  started 
for  home.  As  they  had  found  their  course  obstruct- 
ed by  windfalls,  and  as  the  hills  and  precipices 
along  Wilson's  stream  were  so  steep  that  it  would 


NORRIDGEWOCK. 


85 


be  impracticable  to  return  with  their  loads  by  that 
route,  they  struck  off  over  the  hills  of  what  is  now 
Temple,  to  Titcomb's  mill  stream,  which  they  fol- 
lowed down  to  Sandy  river,  four  miles  above  the 
falls,  and  thence  followed  the  river  to  its  mouth. 
There  was  then  no  settler  above  Little  Norridge- 
wock.  on  the  Sandy  river.  They  passed  down  the 
Kennebeck,  and  arrived  home  on  the  sixth  day  — 
having  suffered  from  the  cold  and  fatigue,  camping 
out  each  night. 

About  the  same  time,  Mr.  Walton,  who  lived  a 
mile  below  Skowhegan  falls,  perished  when  return- 
ing with  his  hand-sled  from  a  hunting  excursion. 
It  appeared  by  his  tracks  when  found,  that  in  his 
efforts  to  reach  home  he  became  exhausted,  when 
he  arrived  within  half  a  mile  of  his  house,  lost  off 
one  of  his  shoes  and  his  snow-shoe,  and  wandered 
about  bewildered  in  the  dark,  some  time  before  he 
perished. 

In  March,  1784,  Abel  Wood,  son  of  Oliver  Wood, 
Esq.,  and  Amos  Fletcher,  father  of  Col.  Fletcher, 
of  Skowhegan,  two  young  men,  about  eighteen 
years  of  age,  started  from  this  place  with  hand- 
sleds,  on  the  ice,  to  carry  supplies  to  their  friends  at 
Carratunk.  They  were  impeded  somewhat  by  the 
cold  wind  which  blew  in  their  faces,  and  met  with 
difficulty  in  passing  by  Carratunk  falls,  where  they 
got  very  wet.  Night  overtook  them  when  within  a 
mile  or  two  of  the  camps;  Wood  became  so  ex- 
hausted that  he  could  proceed  no  further,  and 
dropped  down  upon  the  snow.  Fletcher  too  was  on 
8* 


86  THE    HISTORY   OF 

the  point  of  giving  up,  being  so  overcome  with 
sleep  that  he  had  hardly  strength  to  move  his 
limbs;  but  he  exerted  himself  to  the  utmost  of  his 
power,  knowing  that  his  life  was  at  stake,  and 
succeeded  in  reaching  an  Indian  camp  near  his 
friends.  They  were  rallied,  and  came  back  for 
Wood,  whom  they  found  dead. 

Mr.  Robert  Forbes,*  having  resided  several 
years  in  Canada,  determined  to  remove  to  the 
United  States,  to  live  once  more  with  his  own 
countrymen.  Three  Dutchmen,  by  the  names  of 
MidstafT,  Pancake,  and  Christian,  engaged  to  con- 
duct them  in  twelve  days  to  the  settlements  on  the 
Kennebeck.  On  the  I7th  day  of  March,  1784,  they 
started  upon  their  unfortunate  journey.  The  men, 
Mrs.  Forbes,  and  the  oldest  son  John,  about  four- 
teen years  of  age,  were  upon  snow-shoes.  Their 
provisions  and  four  young  children  were  to  be 
drawn  upon  hand-sleds.  The  youngest  child  was 
but  fifteen  months  old.  They  took  their  depart- 
ure from  Nouvelle  Bois,  on  the  Chaudiere,  and 
pursued  their  way  for  eight  days  with  great  diffi- 
culty. On  the  ninth  day  they  were  obliged  to  leave 
the  river  on  which  they  had  traveled,  and  now 
found  the  country  so  broken,  rough  and  mountain- 
ous, that  they  thought  it  impossible  to  proceed  with 
their  sleds.  After  consultation,  they  built  a  camp 
for  the  women  and  children,   and  taking  most  of 

*  This  account  is  taken  from  a  narrative  of  the  sufferings  of 
Mr.  Robert  Forbes  and  family,  compiled  by  Arthur  Bradman, 
Portland,  printed  at  Thos.  Baker  Wait's  office,  MDCCXCI. 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  87 

their  provisions  and  baggage,  went  in  quest  of  Mi- 
conick  pond,  otherwise  called  lake  Chaudiere,  ex- 
pecting to  return  the  next  day;  but  they  did  not 
reach  the  pond  till  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day. 
There  they  encamped,  and  the  next  morning,  hav- 
ing deposited  their  baggage,  they  crossed  the  pond 
to  find  an  Indian  who  resided  there;  they  found  an 
uninhabited  camp,  where  they  spent  the  night. 
Next  morning,  they  recrossed  the  pond  to  the  place 
where  they  left  their  baggage.  Here  MidstafT  and 
his  companions,  taking  the  provisions  and  the  most 
valuable  goods,  told  Forbes  they  should  not  return 
with  him  to  his  family,  but  they  should  now  leave 
him,  and  make  the  best  of  their  way  to  the  Kenne- 
beek.  And  in  spite  of  his  tears  and  entreaties,  they 
left  him  with  only  one  poor  axe,  a  musket,  and  two 
small  loaves  of  bread.  With  a  heavy  heart  he 
made  his  way  back  to  his  family,  with  the  sorrow- 
ful tidings.  His  wife  and  son  had  suffered  the 
most  fearful  apprehensions,  when  he  did  not  return 
at  the  appointed  time. 

They  were  now  in  the  most  doubtful  perplexity, 
whether  to  go  back  or  forward.  But  fearing  that 
it  would  take  them  more  than  twice  the  time  to  re- 
turn to  Canada,  they  had  spent  in  getting  thus  far, 
and  as  the  Chaudiere  was  now  breaking  up,  they 
resolved,  by  the  help  of  God,  to  proceed  on  their 
journey.  The  way  was  rough,  and  they  traveled 
but  a  short  distance  on  Monday,  the  first  day,  and 
encamped  for  the  night.  The  next  morning,  there 
came  on  a  violent  storm  of  rain  and  snow,  which 


OD  THE    HISTCRY    OF 

continued  two  days.  The  family  did  not  reach  the 
pond  till  Friday  evening.  Soon  after,  they  met 
with  the  Indian,  who  treated  them  kindly,  con- 
ducted them  to  his  camp,  and  supplied  them  with 
provisions.  He  had  just  killed  a  moose,  and 
Forbes  and  his  son  assisted  him  in  bringing  it  to 
the  camp.  The  Indian  gave  them  as  much  of  the 
meat  as  they  would  undertake  to  carry,  and  piloted 
them  to  the  Kennebeck  river,  and  would  have  pro- 
ceeded to  the  settlements,  but  his  wife  was  sick, 
and  he  dared  not  longer  be  absent  from  her.  They 
thanked  him  for  his  kindness,  and  rewarded  him 
with  some  of  their  goods.  He  marked  the  way  on 
a  piece  of  bark,  representing  the  bends,  falls,  and 
carrying  places  on  the  river,  and  then  wished  them 
well,  and  left  them.  On  the  12th  of  April,  their 
provisions  were  again  exhausted,  and  Mrs.  Forbes 
thought  it  best  to  have  a  camp  built  for  herself  and 
children,  while  her  husband  and  oldest  son  should 
go  forward  to  find  the  settlements. 

They  accordingly  started  forward,  and  the  first 
two  days,  finding  the  ice  would  bear  them,  they 
traveled  on  the  river,  and  made  good  progress ;  but 
mistaking  their  way  at  a  carrying  place,  instead  of 
leaving  the  river  and  crossing  the  land  to  the  next 
bend,  which  was  only  twelve  miles,  they  followed 
the  river  sixty  miles  round.  A  little  before  night, 
they  came  to  the  falls,  and  could  go  no  further  on 
the  ice.  The  next  day,  they  crossed  the  river  at  a 
shoal,  rocky  place,  and  were  obliged  to  encamp  for 
the  rest  of  the  day,  on  account  of  a  storm.     The 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  oy 

next  day,  they  traveled  on,  and  finding  the  river 
free  from  ice,  they  built  a  raft  and  undertook  to 
navigate  the  river,  a  business  with  which  they  were 
little  acquainted.  The  current  was  rapid,  and  they 
could  not  manage  their  raft;  after  they  started,  it 
struck  against  a  tree,  which  they  cut  away  to  clear 
themselves.  Passing  the  rapids,  the  water  dashed 
over  them,  keeping  them  constantly  wet.  About 
the  middle  of  the  day,  moving  with  great  rapidity, 
they  struck  a  large  rock,  and  one  end  of  the  raft 
parted,  and  it  was  spread  out  into  a  single  line  of 
logs.  At  this  time  they  lost  their  axe,  and  found  it 
difficult  to  keep  upon  the  broken  fragments  of  their 
raft.  They  were  now  forced  along  rapidly  by  the 
current,  expecting  every  moment  would  be  their 
last.  At  length,  they  fell  into  an  eddy  and  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  safely  on  shore.  They  now  trav- 
eled by  land  till  their  strength  was  almost  exhaust- 
ed. About  the  20th  of  April,  they  were  cheered  by 
the  report  of  a  gun.  They  fired  several  times,  but 
received  no  answer ;  they  now  supposed  that  it  was 
nothing  but  a  falling  tree,  and  moved  on  with 
heavy  hearts.  On  the  evening  of  the  22d,  having 
built  a  fire  on  a  hill,  they  were  discovered  by  two 
hunters,  who  supplied  their  wants  and  conducted 
them  to  the  settlement  at  Seven  Mile  Brook. 

It  was  now  the  tenth  day  since  they  left  Mrs. 
Forbes  and  the  children ;  they  had  eaten  the  few 
ounces  of  meat  they  had  taken  with  them,  and 
their  moccasins,  having  had  nothing  else  to  subsist 
upon.     On  arriving  at  the  settlement,  they  were  so 


90  THE    HISTORY    OF 

weak  that  they  were  scarcely  able  to  stand.  Three 
men  were  immediately  despatched  for  the  relief  of 
Mrs.  Forbes  and  the  children,  who  returned  after 
having  been  absent  thirteen  days,  without  finding 
them.  Though  so  long  time  had  passed,  and  all 
supposed  that  the  family  were  dead,  Mr.  Forbes  in- 
duced two  men  to  start  with  him  for  the  place 
where  they  had  been  left.  On  the  28th  of  May 
they  started,  and  after  traveling  one  day,  Mr. 
Forbes  was  unable  to  keep  up  with  the  others,  and 
they  left  him  to  return.  On  the  2d  day  of  June 
they  reached  the  place,  and  to  their  great  astonish- 
ment they  found  the  mother  and  one  of  the  chil- 
dren alive.  It  was  now  fifty  days  since  they  were 
left  with  nothing  but  a  pound  and  a  half  of  moose 
meat,  and  a  pound  and  a  half  of  tallow,  for  their 
subsistence.  They  had  nothing  else  to  subsist  upon 
but  cold  water  and  the  inside  bark  of  the  fir  tree, 
and  for  forty-eight  days  they  had  been  without  fire. 
On  the  38th  day  after  the  departure  of  Mr.  Forbes, 
the  youngest  child  died;  the  next  youngest  died 
the  following  day,  and  the  oldest  girl  lived  but  four 
days  longer.  The  mother  was  expecting  every 
moment  to  close  the  eyes  of  her  only  remaining 
child,  when  relief  came.  For  several  days,  she 
had  been  so  weak  that  she  was  obliged  to  crawl 
upon  her  hands  and  knees  to  the  spring  for  water, 
and  she  was  unable  to  bury  the  bodies  of  her  chil- 
dren, which  she  had  laid  out.  On  the  3d  of  June 
they  started  for  home,  carrying  Mrs.  Forbes  on  a 
bier  by  land,  and  in  a  canoe   by  water,  till  they 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  91 

safely  arrived  at  Norridgewock.  Mr.  Forbes  resid- 
ed in  this  town  till  1802,  and  then  removed  to  New- 
Gloucester.  Other  cases  of  suffering,  and  perils  by- 
water,  and  perils  by  land,  might  be  mentioned. 

At  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  settlers 
flocked  into  this  place,  and  a  greater  number  be- 
came permanent  residents  in  the  course  of  five 
years,  than  had  settled  in  the  ten  years  preceding. 
Many  who  came  to  explore  the  country  in  the  early 
settlement  of  this  town,  remained  but  a  short  time. 
Some  removed  from  place  to  place;  some  pushed 
forward  farther  up  the  river,  and  others  returned  to 
Massachusetts;  so  that  the  time  of  their  coming, 
and  the  farms  they  occupied,  cannot  be  determined. 

As  soon  as  the  first  settlers  began  to  acquire  a 
competency  for  the  support  of  their  families,  they 
were  called  upon  for  taxes  which  they  were  unable 
to  pay.  After  the  return  of  peace,  the  State,  being 
pressed  with  debt,  had  recourse  to  taxes  to  defray 
the  war  claims  and  incidental  expenses  of  the  gov- 
ernment. All  portions  of  the  commonwealth  were 
burdened  and  oppressed  with  taxes.  A  State  valu- 
ation was  made,  and  taxes  were  levied  on  the 
several  towns ;  the  assessors  of  the  towns  were 
authorized  to  tax  adjacent  plantations  and  settle- 
ments. Under  this  authority,  the  assessors  of  the 
town  of  Winslow,  near  twenty  miles  distant,  taxed 
the  settlers  in  this  town.  The  authority  of  these 
assessors  was  denied,  payment  refused,  and  resist- 
ance made.  The  property  of  the  principal  settlers 
was  seized  and  sold  for  the  tax  assessed  upon  the 


92 


THE    HISTORY    OF    NORRIDGEWOCK. 


place.  Suits  were  commenced  to  recover  damages, 
and  the  parties  were  harrassed  for  several  years. 
They  incurred  large  bills  of  cost,  and  much  ex- 
pense in  attending  court,  nearly  sixty  miles  distant 
In  these  actions,  first  one  party  would  prevail,  then 
the  other  —  demonstrating  the  glorious  uncertainty 
of  the  law. 

Having  become  weary  of  the  strife  about  taxes, 
the  inhabitants  of  this  place  petitioned  to  be  incor- 
porated into  a  town,  that  they  might  assess  and 
collect  the  taxes  in  their  own  way.  The  town  was 
incorporated,  June  18,  1788.  Canaan  and  Fairfield 
were  incorporated  the  same  day.  When  a  question 
was  made,  which  should  be  considered  the  oldest 
town,  the  Legislature  determined  that  they  should 
rank  as  named  on  the  journal,  giving  Norridgewock 
the  precedence. 

By  the  act  of  incorporation,  the  bounds  were  so 
established  as  to  include  five  or  six  lots  on  Jones' 
survey,  which  had  before  been  a  part  of  Canaan 
Plantation,  and  to  exclude  three  lots  on  Sandy  riv- 
er, which  had  been  considered  a  part  of  this  town, 
and  called  Little  Norridgewock.  These  lots  now 
make  part  of  the  town  of  Starks. 


CHAP  TEE  VI 


ORGANIZATION    OF    THE    TOWN. 

Town  Officers,  Petition  to  General  Court,  Abatement  of  Taxes, 
Extracts  from  Records,  Meeting  house,  .Preaching,  Rum  at 
raising  of  the  meeting  house,  Alterations  in  the  house,  Books 
for  Records,  Early  Settlers,  Revolutionary  Pensioners. 

At  the  time  of  the  incorporation  of  this  town, 
there  were  seventy-nine  families  within  its  limits, 
and  the  number  of  inhabitants  was  estimated  to  be 
three  hundred  and  twenty.  The  first  town  meet- 
ing was  holden  August  20,  1788.  Hon.  Daniel 
Cony,  of  Hallowell,  was  chosen  Moderator;  John 
Clark,  Zephaniah  Keith,  and  Moriah  Gould,  Select- 
men and  Assessors;  Josiah  Heald,  Treasurer;  John 
Heald,  Constable ;  and  Charles  Witherell,  Collect- 
or. At  this  meeting  the  town  voted,  "  that  the 
selectmen  forward  a  petition,  as  quick  as  may  be, 
for  the  abatement  of  the  taxes  sent  to  this  town  for 
several  years  past."  And  the  following  petition 
was  prepared : 

"  To  the  Hon.  Senate  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives, in  General  Court  assembled,    The  petition  of 
the  town  of  Norridgewock  most  humbly  sheweth, 
9 


94 


THE    HISTORY    OF 


that  in  consequence  of  a  citation  served  on  Major 
John  Moore,  Sylvanus  Sawyer,  and  Josiah  Warren, 
of  Norridgewock,  we  were  informed  that  the  au- 
thority required  them  to  assess  a  tax,  in  March, 
1788.  We  have  since  been  informed  that  the* 
whole  amount  of  what  Government  requires  of  this 
town  was  £253,  18  s.  9  d.  [$ ■846,45],  a  sum  we  are 
utterly  unable  to  pay.  Such  is  our  situation,  that 
we  are  totally  deprived  of  every  advantage  of  ob- 
taining cash,  and  it  is  found  on  the  strictest  inquiry, 
even  to  obtain  wherewithal  to  forward  this  petition,, 
that  there  is  not  seven  dollars  of  silver,  compre- 
hending every  farthing,  in  the  town  of  Norridge- 
wock. There  is  no  market  that  we  can  go  to,  and 
if  there  were,  we  have  nothing  to  send.  Neither 
do  the  inhabitants  of  this  place,  considered  at  large, 
eat  bread  in  their  families  more  than  three  quarters 
of  the  year.  It  is  not  uncommon  to  find  a  whole 
neighborhood  without  a  cow.  And  it  is  attended 
with  so  much  difficulty  to  keep  sheep,  that  there 
never  was  a  piece  of  fulled  cloth  made  in  Norridge- 
wock. We  are  sorry  to  be  obliged  to  say,  that 
were  it  not  for  the  alternative  presented  us,  name- 
ly, the  privilege  of  obtaining  land  for  settling, 
many  of  our  families  must  have  remained  a  public 
charge  in  the  respective  towns  we  brought  them 
from.  Under  these  deplorable  circumstances, 
strongly  impressed  with  the-  duty  we  owe  the 
Legislature  of  this  Commonwealth,  we  most  hum- 
bly implore  your  interposition,  praying  your  Honors 
to  abate  the  several  taxes  imposed  on  this  planta- 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  VO 

tion,  or  take  such  other  measures  as  your  wise  and 
paternal  care  shall  direct,  and  your  petitioners,  as 
in  duty  bound,  shall  ever  pray. 

"  Norridgewock,  Aug.  20,  1788." 

The  Legislature,  at  their  next  session,  passed  the 
following  resolution  :  "  Resolved,  That  if  the  town 
of  Norridgewock  pay  seventy-two  dollars  into  the 
treasury  of  the  State,  and  cause  one  third  part  of 
the  residue  of  the  tax  to  be  expended  in  the  support 
of  a  Gospel  minister,  one  third  part  in  schooling, 
and  the  other  third  part  on  the  roads  in  said  town, 
the  next  year,  that  the  aforesaid  tax  shall  .be 
abated."  The  town  complied  with  this  requisition. 
Rev.  Ezekiel  Emerson,  the  settled  minister  ol 
Georgetown,  who  had  resided  in  this  place  most  of 
the  time  for  several  years,  was  employed  as  a  min- 
ister, to  the  amount  required,  and  he  was  paid  by 
the  voluntary  contributions  of  individuals. 

On  comparing  this  tax  and  the  population  at 
that  time,  with  the  present  population  of  the  town, 
and  apportioning  a  tax  according  to  the  number  of 
inhabitants,  it  would  amount  to  five  thousand,  two 
hundred  and  eighty-seven  dollars,  nearly  double 
the  amount  of  the  present  State,  county  and  town 
taxes,  which,  with  the  present  advantages  and 
ability  of  the  inhabitants,  would  be  considered  ex- 
tremely oppressive.      A   town   meeting   was   held 


96 


THE   HISTORY   OF 


three  weeks  after  the  first  organization  of  the  town* 
and  it  was  then  voted  to  raise  four  dollars  in 
money,  and  twenty-five  bushels  of  rye,  to  defray 
expenses.  The  first  meeting  in  the  town,  for  elec- 
tion purposes,  was  holden  Nov.  3,  1788.  "Votes 
were  then  given  in  for  Member  of  Congress,  and 
Hon.  George  Thatcher  had  thirty-five  votes.  For 
Electors  of  President,  Daniel  Cony  and  William 
Gorham  had  thirty-five  votes."  No  scattering  votes 
were  cast.  In  March,  1789,  Samuel  Weston  was 
employed  to  run  out  the  boundaries  of  this  town, 
according  to  the  act  of  incorporation :  and  the  lines 
he  then  made  can  still  be  followed,  where  the  trees 
are  standing.  The  first  tax  after  the  incorporation 
of  the  town  was  assessed  on  the  following  persons, 
viz: 


Amos  Adams, 
Ephraim  Brown, 
John  Brown,  1 
Moses  Bickford, 
Henry  Bickford, 
John  Cook, 
W  idow  Cook, 
Abraham  Clark, 
John  Clark, 
Charles  Foye, 
P.  Farnsworth, 
Ezek.  Emerson, 
Zebulon  Gilman, 
Moriah  Gould, 
Widow  Heald, 
Josiah  Heald, 
John  Heald, 


Thomas  Heald, 
Benjamin  Hinds, 
Oliver  Heywood, 
Isaac  Kidder, 
Zeph.  Keith, 
Abraham  Keith, 
Unite  Keith, 
Jonathan  Keith, 
Zachariah  Longley, 
Asa  Longley, 
David  Lancaster, 
Widow  Laughton, 
John  Laughton, 
Thomas  Laughton, 
Phineas  Mclntire, 
Moses  Martin, 
Benjamin  Moore, 


John  Moore, 
Goff  Moore, 
Josiah  Nutting, 
Samuel  Nutting, 
Nathan  Parlin, 
Silas  Parlin, 
Jonas  Parlin, 
Alpheus  Parlin, 
David  Pierce, 
Simon  Pierce, 
Edmund  Parker, 
Widow  Parker, 
A-  Parker, 
Levi  Proctor, 
William  Richardson, 
Robert  Richards, 
Jonas  Sawte'Je, 


NORRtDGEWOCK.  97 

Amos  Shepardson,      Wm.  Sylvester,      John  Ware, 
Samuel  Squier,  Sylvanus  Sawyer,  Josiah  Warren, 

John  Squier,  Levi  Sawyer,         Nath'l  Withee, 

Daniel  Steward,  Levi  Sampson,       William  Withee, 

William  Spaulding,    Benj.  Thompson,  Thos.  Whitcomb, 
Win.  Spaulding,  Jr.,  Joseph  Tarbell,     Chas.  Whitcomb, 
Josiah  Spaulding,        Oliver  Wood,         Obadiah  Witherell, 
Josiah  Spaulding,  Jr.,  Silas  Wood,  Charles  Witherell, 

Eleazer  Spaulding,     Ephraim  Wood,    William  Weston. 
Seth  Spaulding, 

The  whole  number  was  seventy-nine,  which 
comprised  all  the  heads  of  families  in  town.  John 
Moore,  John  Clark,  and  Eleazer  Spaulding  were 
the  highest  three  on  the  list.  The  inhabitants  now 
began  to  acquire  some  of  the  comforts  as  well  as 
the  necessaries  of  life.  There  were  but  few  cases 
of  suffering  for  want  of  food  or  clothing,  and  no 
person  required  assistance,  as  a  pauper,  for  many 
years  after  the  town  was  incorporated. 

It  does  not  appear  that  any  very  exciting  sub- 
jects were  agitated  in  town  meeting,  during  the 
first  twelve  years,  except  the  building  of  a  meeting 
house,  and  employing  a  minister.  The  first  set- 
tlers, descendants  of  the  Pilgrims,  were  early  im- 
pressed with  the  importance  of  having  stated 
religious  instruction,  at  the  expense  of  the  town. 
They  had  been  in  the  habit  of  meeting  for  religious 
worship  on  the  Sabbath,  from  the  first  settlement  of 
the  place.  After  the  incorporation  of  the  town,  in 
five  years  out  of  ten,  a  majority  succeeded  in  rais- 
ing a  ministerial  tax  of  one  hundred  dollars  a  year, 
which  was  expended  for  preaching. 
9* 


98  THE   HISTORY   OF 

At  the  first  annual  meeting  of  the  town,  in  1789, 
a  committee  was  chosen  to  select  a  spot  for  a  meet- 
ing house,  and  the  subject  of  erecting  a  house  con- 
tinued to  be  agitated  for  five  years.  The  commit- 
tee reported  a  lot  on  the  hill  where  William  Allen's 
orchard  now  is.  At  a  subsequent  meeting,  July  9, 
it  was  "Voted  that  the  town  refuse  to  accept  the 
spot  reported  by  the  committee,  for  a  meeting 
house."  August  2,  1789,  "  Voted  not  to  agree  on  a 
spot  for  a  meeting  house,  at  present,"  April,  1789, 
"  Voted  to  dismiss  the  article  respecting  preaching. 
Voted  to  dismiss  the  article  respecting  books  for 
town  records."  March,  1790,  "Voted  that  the 
price  of  wheat  be  6  s. ;  rye,  5  s. ;  corn,  4  s. ;  peas, 
6  s. ;  flax,  1  s.  ;  wool,  3  s. ;  clear  pork,  well  salted, 
Is.;  to  be  received  in  payment  for  all  town  taxes." 
"Voted  to  pass  over  the  article  for  paying  Rev. 
Ezekiel  Emerson  for  preaching."  A  voluntary 
contribution  was  thereupon  raised  to  pay  him. 
May  26,  1790,  "Voted  that  the  selectmen  hire  Rev. 
Mr.  Mussey  to  make  up  a  year  from  the  time  he 
commenced  preaching."  December,  1791,  "Voted 
to  dismiss  the  article  to  hire  preaching."  April, 
1792,  "Voted,  wheat  five  shillings,  rye  four,  corn 
three,  in  payment  for  taxes."  Chose  a  committee 
to  join  with  Canaan  to  hire  preaching.  December, 
1792,  "Voted  to  build  a  meeting  house,  sixty  feet 
by  forty-five,  and  voted  to  set  the  same  in  Deacon 
Clark's  field,"  (the  place  where  it  now  stands.) 
January,  1793,  "Voted  to  hire  Rev.  Mr.  Calef,  till 
all  the  money  in  bank  in  the  town  be  expended." 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  .  99 

July,  1793,  "  Voted  to  hire  Mr.  Calef  one  third  of 
the  time  for  two  years,  if  the  town  of  Canaan  set- 
tles him." 

In  the  summer  of  1794,  the  meeting  house  was 
erected,  and  among  other  things  preparatory  to  the 
raising,  it  was  "Voted  to  get  one  barrel  of  good 
W.  I.  Rum,  and  one  hundred  pounds  of  maple 
sugar,  to  be  used  at  the  raising  of  the  meeting 
house."  During  that  year,  the  meeting  house  was 
erected  and  the  outside  finished,  at  the  expense  of 
the  town.  A  loose  floor  was  laid,  and  rough  seats 
put  up,  so  that  it  could  be  occupied  in  moderate 
weather.  It  remained  in  this  unfinished  state  till 
1807,  when  a  new  effort  was  made,  and  the  house 
was  finished,  by  the  sale  of  the  pews.  The  ar- 
rangement of  the  house  was,  "like  old  Concord 
meeting  house,"  (where  some  of  the  people  had 
been  accustomed  to  worship,)  with  square  pews. 
The  house  was  built  of  good  materials,  in  a  sub- 
stantial manner,  and  well  painted.  The  three  pre- 
vailing religious  denominations  had  a  right  to  occu- 
py the  house,  according  to  the  number  of  pews 
owned  by  each ;  the  property  of  the  house  being  in 
the  town.  As  an  inducement  to  place  the  house  in 
this  spot,  Deacon  Clark  gave  the  town  two  acres  of 
his  field  for  a  common,  and  one  acre  at  the  lower 
end  of  the  village  for  a  burial  ground.  In  1837, 
by  a  vote  of  the  town,  and  the  consent  of  the  own- 
ers of  the  pews,  the  Congregational  church  and 
society,  who  owned  more  than  one  half  of  the 
pews,   remodeled   the  house.       An   addition   was 


100  .  THE    HISTORY    OF 

made  on  the  east  end,  for  stairways  and  an  en  try- 
below,  and  for  an  orchestra  on  the  second  floor. 
One  third  of  the  lower  story  was  fitted  up  for  a 
vestry,  and  two  thirds  for  a  town  hall.  The  upper 
part  was  finished  in  a  convenient  style  for  a  church, 
for  the  sole  use  of  that  society.  The  expense  of 
the  alteration  was  over  two  thousand  dollars.  An 
organ  was  afterwards  procured  by  subscription. 

In  1798,  the  town  voted  that  the  balance  of  the 
ministerial  tax  be  expended  in  purchasing  three 
folio  books  for  town  records  —  ten  years  having 
elapsed  since  the  organization  of  the  town,  before 
any  books  were  procured  for  this  purpose.  During 
that  time,  the  minutes  of  the  town  meetings,  the 
laying  out  of  roads,  and  all  other  matters  of  record, 
were  kept  on  loose  sheets  of  paper,  stitched  togeth- 
er from  time  to  time,  but  in  no  case  attested  by  the 
Town  Clerk.  These  papers  have  been  preserved 
in  that  unfinished  state,  and  are  now  referred  to  as 
Town  Records.  Some  excuse  must  be  made  for 
defects  and  trifling  inaccuracies,  as  there  was  not 
an  individual  in  town,  at  the  time  of  the  incorpo- 
ration, who  had  any  practical  knowledge  of  the 
duty  of  town  officers.  The  camp  of  the  army  had 
been  the  principal  school  for  most  of  the  men  then 
in  town. 

Fifty  men  who  have  lived  in  this  town  have 
been  placed  on  the  list  of  Revolutionary  pensioners, 
two  of  whom  are  still  living  here.  Many  others 
who  served  in  the  army  died  before  pensions  were 
granted.     The  following  is  a  list  of  Revolutionary 


NORRIDGEWOCK. 


101 


pensioners  receiving  $  96  a  year,  under  the  Act  of 
March  18,  1818,  who  have  been  residents  of  this 
town  :  —  Jabez  Bowen,  Nathaniel  Barret,  Magnus 
Beckey,  Benjamin  Baxter,  Moses  Chamberlain, 
Moriah  Gould,  Ezekiel  Gilman,  Benjamin  Hinds, 
Barnabas  Jackson,  Zachariah  Longley,  David 
Pierce,  Andrew  Russell,  Eliphalet  Robbins,  Jonas 
Sawtelle,  Benjamin  Steward,  Eleazer  Spaulding,  Jr., 
Joseph  Tarbell,  Charles  Witherell,  Thomas  Whit- 
comb,  and  Uzziel  Withee.  The  most  of  these 
twenty  were  cut  off  in  1820. 

The  following  were  pensioners  under  the  same 
act,  also  under  the  act  of  June  7,  1832  : 

Samuel  Emery,  first  at  $96,  afterwards,  $120. 


Asa  Longley,        "  "  96, 

Edmund  Parker,  "  "  96, 

Eleazer  Parlin,      "  "  96, 

Solomon  Russell,  "  "  96, 

Wm.  Spaulding,   "  "  96, 

*Josiah  Spaulding,  "  "  96. 

Obad.  Witherell,    "  "  240. 


80. 

80/ 

80. 
120. 

66  §. 

46  §. 
320. 


Under  the  act  of  June  7,  1832,  John  Ames, 
$27,77;  John  Clark,  $41,66;  Peter  Gilman,  $21,20 
*  Thomas  Heald,  $25,27;  *Goff  Moore,  $26,66 
Nathan  Parlin,  $38,34;  Joseph  Russell,  $50,00 
Daniel  Steward,  $33,33;  Silas  Wood,  $57,10 
Phineas  Whitney,  $43,33;    Phineas  Mclntire, 


Still  living. 


CHAPTER    VII 


COUNTY   AND   STATE    OFFICERS. 

Organization  of  the  County,  County  Officers,  Embargo,  War, 
High  prices,  Separation,  Brunswick  Convention,  Portland 
Convention,  Maine  becomes  a  State,  Gov.  King,  Appoint- 
ments, Sheriff,  Judge  of  Probate,  Register  of  Probate,  Clerk 
of  Courts,  Register  of  Deeds,  Political  Parties,  Federalists, 
Whigs  and  Democrats,  Liberty  Party,  Reformers,  Free  Soil, 
Votes  for  Governor,  for  President. 

In  1809,  the  County  of  Somerset  was  established, 
and  Norridgewock  made  the  shire  town.  John 
Ware  was  then  the  representative  to  the  General 
Court,  and  was  the  principal  agent  in  the  establish- 
ment of  the  new  County,  and  contributed  liberally 
to  effect  it.  He  gave  an  acre  of  land  for  a  Jail  lot, 
and  eight  hundred  dollars  for  the  building.  He 
also  gave  the  County  the  use  of  a  house  for  a 
Court  House,  as  long  as  they  chose  to  occupy  the 
building. 

William  Jones  was  appointed  Judge  of  Probate 
and  Clerk  of  the  Courts ;  Richard  Sawtelle,  Sher- 
iff; John  L.  Prescott  and  Samuel  Searle,  Deputy 
Sheriffs;    John   Loring,    County   Treasurer;    and 


THE    HISTORY    OF    NORRIDGEWOCK.  103 

Samuel  Smith,  Crier  of  the  Courts ;  all  of  this 
town.  Amos  Townsend,  of  Fairfield,  was  chosen 
Register  of  Deeds  ;  Beza  Bryant,  of  Anson,  Bryce 
McLellan,  of  Canaan,  and  Andrew  Croswell,  of 
Mercer,  Judges  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas; 
William  Allen,  Jr.,  of  Industry,  and  Eli  Weston,  of 
Canaan,  Special  Justices  of  the  same  Court. 

The  town  in  its  corporate  capacity  remonstrated 
against  the  Embargo,  in  1808,  and  party  spirit 
raged  greatly.  When  war  was  declared  with 
Great  Britain,  in  181.2,  a  day  of  fasting  was  recom- 
mended by  Gov.  Strong,  which  was  duly  observed 
in  this  town.  A  large  majority  of  the  inhabitants 
deprecated  the  calamity,  and  reluctantly  yielded  to 
the  requirements  of  the  Government,  in  furnishing 
men  and  means  to  carry  on  the  war.  Two  spirited 
young  men,  however,  were  appointed  Lieutenants 
from  this  town,  and  several  privates  were  enlisted. 
A  direct  tax  was  imposed  and  payment  enforced, 
two  years  in  succession.  The  return  of  peace,  in 
1815,  was  bailed  by  all  classes  with  acclamations 
of  joy.  There  was  an  actual  diminution  of  the 
value  of  property  in  the  town,  during  the  war. 
The  price  of  land  fell,  and  there  were  no  purchas- 
ers, while  the  prices  of  all  kinds  of  merchandise 
were  exorbitant.  Molasses  was  sold  at  a  dollar  a 
gallon.  Souchong  tea,  at  one  dollar  and  a  quarter 
a  pound.  Coffee,  at  thirty  cents.  Sheeting  at 
forty  cents  a  yard,  and  other  articles  at  the  same 
rates. 

The  question  of  separation  of  Maine  from  Mas- 


104  THE    HISTORY    OF 

sachusetts  was  agitated  and  submitted  to  the  peo- 
ple, in  1816,  under  much  political  excitement — one 
party  advocating  it  because  they  should  have  a 
majority  in  the  new  State,  and  the  others  opposing 
it  for  fear  of  losing  power.  But  the  question  was 
submitted  to  the  people,  and  towns  were  authorized 
to  choose  delegates  to  form  a  constitution,  provided 
that  a  majority  of  five  ninths  was  in  favor  of  the 
separation.  The  votes  in  this  town  were  sixty-four 
yeas  and  sixty-five  nays;  and  William  Allen.  Jr., 
was  chosen  a  delegate  to  the  Convention  for  form- 
ing a  constitution.  He  attended  during  the  session 
of  this  convention  at  Brunswick,  without  compen- 
sation. Only  a  small  majority  of  the  votes  in 
Maine  were  in  favor  of  the  measure.  A  committee 
of  the  Convention  ascertained  that  the  aggregate 
majorities  of  yeas  in  the  several  towns  and  planta- 
tions were  to  the  majorities  of  nays  more  than  five 
to  four.  So  they  decided  that  the  Convention  was 
authorized  to  proceed  in  the  formation  of  a  consti- 
tution, although  there  was  not  the  necessary  major- 
ity of  all  the  votes.  The  Legislature  refused  to 
sanction  this  construction,  and  no  further  proceed- 
ings were  made  until  1819,  when  the  object  was 
accomplished  by  the  united  efforts  of  both  political 
parties.  After  the  preliminary  measures  had  been 
taken,  another  Convention  met  in  Portland  in  Octo- 
ber. William  Allen,  Jr.,  was  again  chosen  dele- 
gate. A  large  majority  in  this  town,  and  in  the 
State,  was  in  favor  of  the  separation.  The  con- 
stitution   was    prepared    by   the   Convention  and 


NOKRIDGEWOCK.  105 

adopted  by  the  people  with  great  unanimity,  and 
on  the  15th  of  March,  1820,  Maine  became  an  in- 
dependent State.  At  the  first  election,  Gen.  Wil- 
liam King  was  chosen  Governor,  by  a  large  major- 
ity. He  received  all  but  one  of  the  votes  in  this 
town.  The  Executive  appointments  were  made  in 
accordance  with  the  previous  understanding,  that 
each  party  should  have  its  share  of  the  officers  — 
and  generally  the  appointments  were  satisfactory 
to  all  parties.  The  appointment  of  Sheriff  in  the 
County  of  Somerset  was  injudicious.  Mr.  Sawtelle, 
who  had  before  been  Sheriff,  was  a  discreet,  unas- 
suming man,  of  strict  integrity,  against  whom  no 
complaint  had  been  made.  He  was  removed,  and 
his  successor,  Benjamin  Adams,  from  Hallowell, 
was  quite  different  in  his  character.  Remonstran- 
ces were  made  against  this  appointment,  and  also 
against  the  appointment  of  Hon.  Warren  Preston, 
a  lawyer  of  this  town,  to  be  Judge  of  Probate, 
But  the  opposition  to  Judge  Preston  subsided,  and 
he  continued  in  office  till  1833,  when  he  resigned, 
and  Hon.  Drummond  Farnsworth,  of  this  town, 
was  appointed  for  seven  years ;  just  before  the  ex- 
piration of  his  term,  he  resigned,  and  Hon.  Charles 
Green,  of  Athens,  was  appointed.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term,  Judge  Green  was  re-appointed, 
and  now  holds  the  office.  William  Haskell  was 
appointed  Register  of  Probate  by  Governor  King. 
Mr.  Haskell  was  succeeded  by  Joshua  Gould,  Cul- 
len  Sawtelle,  William  Allen,  and  Thomas  C. 
Jones,  all  of  this  town.  William  Allen,  Jr.,  of  this 
10 


106  THE   HISTORY   OF 

town,  was  appointed  Clerk  of  the  Courts  in  1820, 
and  was  succeeded  by  James  Dinsmore,  of  Anson, 
Elias  Cobb,  of  Solon,  Joshua  Gould,  of  this  town, 
Cyrus  Fletcher,  John  Kerswell,  and  Llewellyn 
Kidder,  of  Skowhegan. 

In  1821,  Asa  Clark,  of  this  town,  was  chosen 
Register  of  Deeds,  and  held  the  office  by  re-election 
till  March,  1847,  when  William  Titcomb,  of  New 
Portland,  the  present  incumbent,  was  chosen  to 
that  office.  Hon.  William  Read,  of  Strong,  was 
appointed  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Sessions, 
in  the  room  of  Calvin  Selden,  of  this  town.  After 
the  first  organization  of  the  State  Government  in 
Maine,  the  two  political  parties  fell  back  upon  their 
rights,  and  almost  all  appointments  have  been 
made  with  particular  reference  to  the  political  opin- 
ions of  those  appointed.  The  re-appointment  of 
Hon.  John  S.  Tenney,  of  this  town,  as  Judge  of 
the  Supreme  Judicial  Court,  is  an  honorable  ex- 
ception. 

On  looking  at  the  votes  for  Governor,  it  will  be 
seen  that  there  were  no  dissenting  votes  in  this 
town  for  the  first  ten  years.  In  1799,  opposing 
candidates  were  voted  for  in  the  election  of  State 
and  County  officers.  The  majority  in  this  town 
generally  voted  for  the  Federal  candidates,  so  long 
as  the  Federalists  were  known  as  a  party.  After 
the  blending  of  all  parties,  under  President  Mon- 
roe's administration,  new  issues  were  formed,  and 
new  parties,  now  known  by  the  names  of  Whigs 
and  Democrats,  sprung  up.     In  1841,  the  advocates 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  107 

of  human  rights  and  the  friends  of  the  slaves  or- 
ganized a  political  party,  to  remove  the  evils  of 
slavery  from  our  country.  They  adopted  the  name 
of  the  Liberty  party.  Some  of  the  best  citizens  in 
this  town  entered  fully  into  the  views  of  this  party, 
and  their  numbers  increased  until  1847,  when  they 
numbered  one  sixth  part  of  the  voters.  In  1845,  a 
fourth  party  was  formed  in  this  town,  who  took  the 
name  of  National  Reformers.  Their  creed  is  ex- 
pressed in  the  following  resolution :  Resolved,  That 
the  earth  belongs  to  God,  and  he  has  given  to  every 
man  an  equal  natural  right  to  the  use  of  light,  air, 
earth,  and  water;  and  as  it  is  from  the  earth  we 
draw  our  subsistence,  so  any  individual  has  a 
natural  and  inalienable  right  to  the  use  of  a  suffi- 
cient quantity  of  land  to  afford  him  a  comfortable 
subsistence,  and  it  is  not  in  the  power  of  any  gov- 
ernment to  make  any  just  law  which  shall  destroy 
that  right."  They  are  in  favor  of  the  reduction  of 
the  salaries  of  public  officers,  and  of  the  distribu- 
tion of  the  public  lands  among  actual  settlers. 
They  will  vote  for  no  persons  who  will  not  pledge 
themselves  to  carry  our  these  principles  —  and 
they  have  obtained  one  eighth  part  of  the  votes  in 
this  town.  The  Liberty  party  and  the  "National 
Reform "  party  coalesced  in  1848,  forming  the 
"  Free  Soil  "  party,  which  numbered  one  third  of 
the  voters  in  town. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  votes  in  this  town, 
fer  the  last  fifty  years.  For  the  ten  preceding 
years,  the  votes  were  unanimously  for  the  prevail- 


108 


THE  HISTORY  OF  NORRIDGEWOCK. 


ing  candidate.  The  largest  vote  during  that  period 
was  in  1789,  when  39  votes  were  cast  for  John 
Hancock,  the  Revolutionary  patriot.  The  smallest 
vote  was  in  1793,  when  nine  votes  only  were  given 
for  Hancock. 


VOTES  FOE  GOVERNOR. 


1799. 

Sumner 

30,  Heath 

17 

1820.  King 

129 

Wingate  &.  others  155 

1800. 

Strong 

14,  Gerry 

23 

1821.  Parris 

74, 

Wingate         " 

155 

1801. 

Strong 

11,  Gerry 

35 

1822.  Parris 

84, 

Whitman        " 

80 

1802. 

Strong 

27,  Gerry 

27 

1823.  Parris 

68, 

Longfellow      " 

76 

1803. 

Strong 

26,  Gerry 

21 

1824.  Parris 

100, 

Longfellow 

49 

1804. 

Strong 

34,  Sullivan 

27 

1825.  Parris 

49, 

Lincoln 

95 

1805. 

Strong 

27,  Sullivan 

50 

1826.  Lincoln 

119, 

others  none 

1806. 

Strong 

41,  Sullivan 

41 

1827.  Lincoln 

85, 

"         " 

1807. 

Strong 

47,  Sullivan 

48 

1828.  Lincoln 

113 

"         " 

1808. 

Gore, 

49,  Sullivan 

35 

1829.  Hunton 

142, 

Smith 

102 

1809. 

Gore 

80,  Lincoln 

22 

1830.  Hunton 

159, 

Smith 

103 

1810. 

Gore 

101,  Gerry 

22 

1831.  Goodenow  147, 

Smith 

115 

1811. 

Gore 

8S,  Gerry 

31 

1832.  Goodenow  159, 

Smith 

110 

1812. 

Strong 

100,  Gerry 

21 

1833.  Goodenow  137, 

Dunlap 

124 

1813. 

Strong 

115,  Varnum 

25 

1834.  Sprague 

1835.  King 

176, 

Dun  lap 

148 

1814. 

Strong 

112,  Dexter 

22 

124, 

Dunlap 

112 

1815. 

Strong 

122,  Dexter 

30 

1836.  Kent 

160, 

Dunlap 

150 

1816. 

Brooks  115|  Dexter 

41 

1837.  Kent 

221, 

Parks 

84 

1817. 

Brooks 

119,  Dearborn 

29 

1833.  Kent 

236, 

Fairfield: 

127 

1818. 

Brooks 

110,  Crowninshield  32 

1839.  Kent 

226, 

Fairfield 

99 

1819. 

Brooks 

59,  Crowninshield  46 

1840.  Kent] 

263, 

Fairfield 

100 

1841 

Kent          223, 

Fairfield    109,  Liberty  party 

19 

1842 

Kent          187 

Fairfield     98,       " 

" 

42 

1843 

Robinson  175, 

Anderson    80,       " 

" 

47 

1844. 

Robinson  203, 

Anderson    90,       " 

" 

50 

1845. 

Morse        171, 

Anderson    81,       " 

" 

51 

1846. 

Bronson     131, 

Dana          74,      " 

« 

74,  Reformers  34 

1847. 

Bronsan     144, 

Dana           63,       " 

i* 

36,         "          29 

1848. 

Hamlin      155, 

Dana 

80,  Free  Soil 

105 

CHAPTER    VIII 


TOWN    OFFICERS. 

Intemperance,  Moral  Reform  and  Temperance  Societies,  Cold 
Season,  Sickness,  Division  of  the  town,  Freshet,  Land  spec- 
ulation, Surplus  revenue,  Political  excitement,  Population, 
Longevity,  Bill  of  Mortality,  Finances,  Town  Officers,  By- 
Laws. 

When  the  settlers  commenced  building  framed 
houses,  it  was  necessary  to  rally  all  the  force  of  the 
settlement  to  the  raising;  and  they  thought  no 
building  could  be  erected  without  rum.  Even 
when  the  meeting  house  was  built,  they  considered 
rum  a  necessary  article  for  the  occasion.  When 
military  trainings  were  introduced,  ardent  spirits 
were  always  furnished  by  the  officers  for  their  sol- 
diers. The  practice  of  treating  upon  all  occasions 
was  introduced  by  the  time  that  the  first  settlers  in 
this  town  could  raise  their  bread  and  procure  the 
common  necessaries  of  life  for  their  families.  In- 
temperance soon  reared  its  frightful  head,  and  long 
continued  to  be  the  greatest  foe  to  the  prosperity  of 
the  town.  The  habit  of  using  ardent  spirits  was 
acquired  by  the  soldiers  in  the  army.  While  they 
were  driving  back  and  subduing  a  foreign  enemy, 
10* 


110  THE    HISTORY    OF 

a  more  insidious  foe  was  binding  them  with  the 
fetters  of  a  depraved  appetite ;  so  that  in  the  early 
settlement  of  this  town  the  abodes  of  poverty  were 
made  more  wretched  by  the  intemperance  of  the  in- 
mates. The  consequences  of  the  general  use  of 
ardent  spirits  throughout  the  country  were  truly 
deplorable.  The  most  polished  and  refined,  the 
most  learned  and  intelligent,  were  often  the  victims 
of  the  destroyer.  This  town  suffered  its  full  pro- 
portion of  the  evils  of  intemperance. 

Some  Revolutionary  patriots  foresaw  the  evil  and 
avoided  it.  Others  had  power  to  break  the  chains 
of  habit,  when  fastened  upon  them.  One  worthy 
man,  who  had  formed  the  habit  of  using  ardent 
spirits  by  drinking  his  rations  in  the  army,  said  he 
had  such  an  appetite  for  rum  that  he  believed  no 
Indian  ever  loved  it  better;  but  when  he  became  a 
Christian,  by  the  grace  of  God  he  was  enabled  to 
break  off  entirely  from  the  use  of  ardent  spirits, 
long  before  any  temperance  society  was  formed. 
He  lived  to  old  age,  a  pattern  of  sobriety  and  a 
pillar  in  the  church. 

Intemperance  received  a  new  impulse  at  the 
close  of  the  war,  in  1815,  when  the  price  of  dis- 
tilled spirits  became  so  reduced,  that  a  man  could 
get  intoxicated  for  six  cents.  The  next  year  a 
society  was  formed  in  this  town,  with  which  a 
number  from  other  towns  united,  for  the  "  reforma- 
tion of  morals."'  The  principal  object  of  this 
society  was  to  suppress  the  unlawful  sale  and  check 
the  improper  use  of  ardent  spirits.     Considerable 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  Ill 

exertion  was  made  to  effect  their  object,  but  public 
opinion  was  not  in  favor  of  restrictive  measures, 
and  the  efforts  of  the  society  were  unavailing. 
Many  good  men  lamented  the  degeneracy  of  the 
times  and  did  what  they  could  to  check  the  evil. 

In  1828,  temperance  societies  began  to  be  formed, 
and  public  opinion  assumed  a  healthful  tone  on  the 
subject.  A  town  temperance  society  was  organized, 
also  a  county  society,  a  young  men's  society,  and  a 
total  abstinence  society.  Much  good  resulted  from 
their  efforts ;  but  when  the  Washingtonian  society 
was  instituted  by  those  who  had  been  the  victims 
of  intemperance,  it  exerted  more  influence  over 
that  unfortunate  class  than  all  other  societies. 
Numbers  in  this  town  united  with  this  society,  and 
by  the  combined  efforts  of  the  friends  of  temper- 
ance, the  evil  has  been  stayed,  and  the  intemperate 
in  most  cases  reclaimed,  so  that  but  few  are  now 
found  in  this  highway  of  ruin.  One  can  hardly 
believe  that  ever  a  hogshead  of  rum  was  retailed 
from  a  single  store  in  this  place  in  one  week  —  and 
yet  this  is  true. 

The  summer  of  1816  was  distinguished  as  the 
cold  season.  There  was  snow  in  June,  and  frost 
in  every  month.  Corn  was  entirely  cut  off  and 
bread  stuffs  were  scarce  and  dear.  Flour  was  fif- 
teen dollars  a  barrel,  and  wheat  two  dollars  and  a 
half  a  bushel,  in  May,  1817.  The  next  season  was 
also  very  cold  and  wet,  but  the  crops  in  1818  were 
remarkably  good.  This  year  the  typhus  fever  pre- 
vailed in  the  village.     James  Waugh,  a  prominent 


112  THE    HISTORY    OF 

man,  James  Wright,  an  excellent  mechanic,  and 
many  others  died  about  the  same  time.  In  1826, 
the  dysentery  and  rash  prevailed  in  town,  and  there 
was  a  great  mortality  among  the  youth. 

In  1828,  twelve  families  with  their  estates  and 
territory,  comprising  about  one  twelfth  part  of  the 
taxable  property  of  the  town,  were  set  off  from  Nor- 
ridgewock,  at  their  own  request,  and  annexed  to 
the  town  of  Milburn,  and  they  now  constitute  a 
part  of  the  town  and  village  of  Skowhegan. 

The  year  1832  was  distinguished  by  a  great 
freshet,  in  May,  when  the  Kennebeck  was  five  feet 
higher  than  it  ever  had  been  since  the  first  settle- 
ment of  the  town.  The  water  rose  more  than 
twenty  feet  in  this  town  in  the  space  of  three  days, 
and  did  considerable  damage.  The  season  was 
wet  and  cold,  and  the  crops  of  corn  and  grain  were 
small. 

The  community  was  excited  in  1834  with  land 
and  timber  speculations.  Timber  lands  had  been 
thrown  into  the  market,  and  were  seized  upon  with 
avidity,  and  prices  rapidly  rose  from  one  dollar  to 
ten  dollars  an  acre.  Fortunes  were  made  in  a  day, 
and  a  large  portion  of  the  community  were  as 
much  infatuated  as  the  California  gold  diggers  of 
later  times.  The  banks  discounted  freely  to  busi- 
ness men  and  speculators.  The  fever  raged  for 
three  years  —  when  the  buble  burst.  Many  awoke 
from  their  dreams  of  wealth  to  find  themselves  in- 
solvent. The  banks  could  not  collect  their  loans. 
The  specie  was  withdrawn  from  their  vaults  by  the 


NORRIDGEWOCK. 


113 


removal  of  the  government  depositee,  and  all  the 
banks  in  New  England  found  it  necessary  in  1837 
to  suspend  specie  payments.  Immense  losses  were 
sustained  even  by  careful,  prudent  men.  Some 
found  that  they  had  been  imposed  upon,  and 
had  recourse  to  judicial  tribunals  to  determine  the 
validity  of  the  contracts  they  had  made.  The 
business  men  of  this  place,  and  a  number  of  pru- 
dent farmers,  were  drawn  into  the  vortex,  and  lost 
from  five  hundred  to  five  thousand  dollars  each. 

In  1837,  the  surplus  revenue  of  the  national 
treasury  was  deposited  with  the  several  States,  and 
Maine,  instead  of  applying  her  share  to  the  pay- 
ment of  the  State  debt,  distributed  it  among  the 
towns,  according  to  the  population,  at  the  rate  of 
two  dollars  to  each  inhabitant  —  to  be  refunded 
when  called  for  by  the  State. 

This  town  chose  a  committee  of  five  to  invest 
their  share  of  the  surplus  revenue  in  bank  stock, 
or  in  loans  to  individuals.  The  interest  was  to  be 
applied  to  the  improvement  of  the  burial  grounds 
and  other  town  purposes.  The  committee  followed 
their  instructions  and  invested  the  money;  but  be- 
fore a  year  elapsed  it  was  insisted  by  many  that 
this  money  ought  to  be  distributed  among  the  in- 
habitants ;  others  still  thought  that  the  funds 
should  remain  safely  invested.  Town  meetings 
were  repeatedly  called,  attended  by  angry  discus- 
sions and  much  excitement.  At  length  the  vote  for 
investing  the  money  was  rescinded,  and  a  new 
committee  was  raised,  to  sell  the  bank  stock,   and 


114  THE   HISTORY    OF 

collect  the  loans.  The  town  voted  that  two  dol- 
lars should  be  paid  to  each  person  who  was  an 
inhabitant  of  this  town  at  the  time  when  the  sur- 
plus revenue  was  distributed  among  the  towns,  if 
they  were  living,  or  to  their  lawful  representatives 
—  one  half  in  six  months,  and  the  other  half  in 
one  year,  with  interest ;  and  a  tax  of  eight  hundred 
dollars  was  raised,  to  make  good  any  deficiency 
and  to  defray  the  expenses. 

No  transaction  has  ever  before  produced  so  much 
altercation  and  bitterness  in  any  town  meeting  as 
this.  It  was  well  remarked  by  an  intelligent  citi- 
zen, that  if  he  were  disposed  to  do  the  greatest  pos- 
sible injury  to  a  town,  under  pretence  of  doing 
good,  he  would  raise  a  tax  of  a  thousand  dollars  a 
year,  to  be  distributed  among  the  inhabitants. 

In  1840,  the  town  partook  largely  of  the  general 
excitement  that  prevailed  throughout  the  country, 
previous  to  the  presidential  election.  Public  dis- 
cussions were  repeatedly  held,  and  the  best  talents 
in  the  State  were  employed.  Each  party  endeav- 
ored to  excel  the  other.  Splendid  processions  par- 
aded in  our  streets,  and  stages  were  erected,  where 
public  speakers  harangued  mass  meetings,  all  pro- 
fessing to  be  animated  with  ardent  patriotism,  and 
anxious  to  promote  the  best  interests  of  the  country. 
A  larger  number  of  votes  were  given  this  year, 
than  had  ever  been  given  before,  or  has  been  giv- 
en since,  on  any  occasion. 

The  death  of  President  Harrison,  which  occurred 
one  month   after   his    inauguration,    was    deeply 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  115 

lamented  by  the  whigs  in  this  town.  At  the  annu- 
al fast,  a  few  days  after  the  event,  Rev.  Mr.  Peet 
delivered  an  appropriate  discourse  upon  the  death 
of  the  President. 

The  population  of  the  town,   county  and  State, 
since  1784,  has  been  as  follows  : 

Date.         Norridgewock.     Somerset.  Maine. 

1784.  280.         *1,000.  56,321. 


1790. 

376. 

2,330. 

96,540. 

1800. 

633. 

5,555. 

151,719. 

1810. 

880. 

12,317. 

228,705. 

1820. 

1,454. 

21,698. 

298,335. 

1830. 

1,710. 

35,779. 

398,456. 

1840. 

1,865. 

f33,912. 

501,796. 

1849. 

*2,000. 

*40,000. 

*600,000. 

Numbers  of  different 

ages  in  Norridgewock: 

Under  10.      10  to  20. 

20  to  30. 

30  to  40.       40  to  50. 

1830. 

545.         423. 

273. 

423.         123, 

1840. 

531.        466. 

291. 

466.         168. 

. 

50  to  60.       60  to  70. 

70  to  80. 

over  80.         Total. 

1830. 

64.          47. 

24. 

8.       1710. 

1840. 

103.          59. 

32. 

9.       1865. 

By  the  census  of  1840,  there  is  but  one  in  about 
200  that  was  over  80  years  of  age,  one  in  45  over 
70,  and  one  in  18  over  60.  But  one  person  in  town 
has  ever  lived  to  the  age  of  100.    Mrs.  Adams,  who 

*  By  estimation.  t  The  county  was  divided  in  1838. 


116 


THE    HISTORY    OF 


died  near  40  years  since,  was  reputed  to  be  over 
100  years  old.  Three  have  died  at  the  age  of  nine- 
ty-eight; namely,  Amos  Adams,  Obadiah  Wither- 
ell,  and  Ezekiel  Gilman.  The  oldest  persons  now- 
living  in  town  are 

Mrs.  Martha  Gilman,  a  pensioner,  aged  98. 

Josiah  Spaulding,  "               «       88. 

Thomas  Heald,  "               "       84. 

William  Crombie,  "       87. 

John  Perkins,  "       86. 

By  an  examination  of  the  census,  and  the  num- 
ber of  deaths  in  town,  it  will  be  seen  that  on  an 
average,  one  has  died  every  year  out  of  a  hundred 
inhabitants.  The  year  1826  was  remarkable  for 
the  mortality  that  prevailed ;  one  out  of  38  died 
that  year.  No  epidemic  nor  contagious  sickness 
has  prevailed  to  any  great  extent  in  town  —  except 
the  sickness  among  children  in  1826,  and  the 
typhus  fever  in  1818. 

BILL  OF  MORTALITY  IN  NORRIDGEWOCK,  SINCE  1827.* 

During  the  year  1828.                            age. 

A  son  of  John  Wood,  20 

Adeline,  daughter  of  John  Kidder,  19 
Total,  two. 

In  1829. 

William  Palmer,  died  in  a  fit,  75 

Amasa,  son  of  David  Gilman,  13 

Mr.  Rogers,  old  age,  80 

William  Dinsmore,  Jr.,  dropsy  on  the  brain,  22 

*A  "Record  of  Mortality"  has  been  kept  by  Rev.  J.  Peet  since  1814.    The 
last  22  years  only  are  submitted. 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  117 

AGE 

Thomas  Whitcomb,  drowned,  65 

Caroline  Heald,  hemorrhage,  15 

Emily  Heald,  fever,  15 

Phebe,  widow  of  Josiah  Heald,  palsy,  80 

William  Hackett,  fever,  22 

Mrs.  Wood,  wife  of  Nathan  Wood,  Jr.,  puerperal,  40 
Ten  adults,  also  ten  children. 

In  1830. 

Horatio,  son  of  John  Marshall,  palsy,  18 

Mrs.  Adams,*wife  of  Amos  Adams,  Senior,  about  70 

Capt.  Amos  Fletcher,  consumption,  40 

Deacon  Nathan  Wood,  dropsy,  80 

Jonathan  Bosworth,  fever,  43 

Zebediah  Barker,  Jr.,  fever,  17 

Adeline,  wife  of  Edward  Rowe,  fever,  25 

Harriet,  wife  of  Jonathan  Stoddard,  fever,  26 

Mrs.  Trench,  wife  of  James  Trench,  Esq.,  about  30 
Nine  adults,  also  four  children. 

In  1831. 

William,  son  of  William  Allen,  consumption,  22 

William  Wilson,  old  age,  81 

Charlotte,  wife  of  Hon.  D.  Farnsworth,  consumption,  43 

Two  persons  of  color,  in  Miles  Williams'  family,  do.,  unknown 

Ephraim  Lindsey,  scrofula,  about  72 

Relief  B.  Carter,  consumption,  18 
Seven  adults,  also  one  child. 

In  1832. 

Emeline,  daughter  of  Joshua  Gould,  Esq.,  fever,  20 

Mrs.  Bigelow,  wife  of  Cushman  Bigelow,  fever,  about  30 

Benjamin  Longley,  Jr.,  deranged,  "      25 

James  Taylor,  dropsy,  "      45 

Deacon  John  Clark,  one  of  the  first  settlers,  old  age,  "      81 

Phineas  Whitney,  consumption  and  old  age,  "      80 

A  son  of  William  L.  Wheeler,  fever,  "      19 
Seven  adults,  also  five  children. 

In  1833. 

Polly,  daughter  of  Edmund  Parker,   long  sickness,  about  30 

Stephen  Tuckerman,  intemperance,  50 

Sarah,  wife  of  Thomas  Jones,  lung  fever,  69 
Charles  Witherell,  a  revolutionary  pensioner,  consumption,     71 

Sarah,  widow  of  Josiah  Warren,  cramp,  83 

Jacob  Cook,  a  schoolmaster,  fever,  about  35 

11 


about  54 

"   17 

«   40 

"   36 

82 

69 

17 

about  45 

about  75 

"   74 

.72 

55 

118  THE    HISTORY    OF 

AGE 

Nathan  Parlin,  a  pensioner  and  early  settler,  old  age,      about  78 
Oliver  C,  son  of  M.  S.  Blunt,  Esq.,  inflammation  of  brain,  "      23 

Eight  adults,  also  six  children. 
In  1834. 
Dr.  Asaph  Thompson,  apoplexy, 
Persia,  daughter  of  Dr.  Thompson,  consumption, 
Melinda,  wife  of  Melzar  Lindsay,  consumption, 
Jason  Hinds,  consumption, 
Peter    Gilman,   the  old  post  rider,  dysentery, 
Mrs.  Bates,  wife  of  Solomon  Bates,  Esq.,  palsy, 
Harriet  Drew,  fever, 
Love,  wife  of  Thomas  Cook,  drowned, 

Eight  adults,  also  one  child. 

In  1835. 
Mrs.  Carol,  an  aged  lady, 
Mary,  wife  of  William  Crombie, 
Deacon  Solomon  Bixby,  a  worthy  man,  old  age, 
Caleb  Jewett,  Esq  ,  fever, 

Four  adults,  also  one  child. 

In  1836. 

Samuel,  son  of  Joseph  Baker,  killed  in  the  woods,  about  20 

Edmund  Parker,  a  revolutionary  pensioner,  apoplexy,  76 

Gardiner  French,  consumption,  28 

Mrs.  Haggett,  mother  of  I.  Haggett,  a  widow,  old  age,  about  80 
Four  adults,  also  two  children. 

In  1837. 

Charles  G.,  son  of  Melzar  Lindsey,  consumption  23 

Cyrus,  son  of  James  Stackpole,  drowned. near  the  Forks,          19 

Francis  Powers,  Jr.,  drowned  at  the  same  time,  25 

Lucy,  widow  of  Nathan  Parlin,  consumption,  70 
Four  adults,  also  eight  children. 

In  1838. 

Mary,  wife  of  Joseph  Vickerie,  consumption,  about  68 

Charles  Morse,  2d,  consumption,  "      28 

Mrs.  Blackwell,  wife  of  Jabez  Blackwell,  old  age,  "      75 

Jabez  Blackwell,  old  age,  78 

Lucy,  wife  of  Sumner  Bixby,  inflammation  of  brain,  32 

Mrs.  Tozer,  wife  of  John  Tozer,  fever,  59 

Widow  Eliza  Rider,  about  50 

Mrs  Bowen,  widow  of  Jabez  Bowen,  "      70 

Mr.  Leathers,  son  of  Levi  Leathers,  "      25 

Elias,  son  of  Isaac  Haggett,  consumption,  18 


NORRIDGEWOCK. 


119 


Julia,  daughter  of  Israel  Danforth,  consumption, 
Eben  E.  Russell,  (in  Ohio,)  consumption. 
Joseph  Vickerie,  an  early  settler,  consumption, 
Lucy,  daughter  of  Isaac  Haggett,  consumption, 
Jonas  Parlin,  one  of  the  first  settlers,  old  age, 
Richard  Sawtelle,  Esq.,  formerly  sheriff,  consumption 
Seventeen  adults,  also  fourteen  children. 

In  1839. 
Lucy,  widow  of  Joel  Crosby,  consumption, 
Thurston  Heald,  son  of  Josiah  Heald,  consumption, 
Sarah,  wife  of  Charles  D.  Farrin,  consumption, 
Dolly,   wife  of  Samuel  Smith,  consumption, 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Rev.  S.  Hutchins,  consumption, 
Charles,  son  of  Edmund  Parker,  (at  Mobile,)  fever, 
She  adults,  also  two  children. 

In  1840. 

Mary,  wife  of  Isaac  Haggett,  consumption,  about  44 

Mrs.  Kilgore,  wife  of  John  Kilgore,  fever,  "      33 

William,  son  of  James  Wright,  ('at  Bath,)  fever,  "      28 
Miss  Emerson,  daughter  of  Hawley  Emerson,  consumption,    22 

William  Weston,  one  of  the  first  settlers,  about  76 
Five  adults,  also  six  children. 


AGE 

15 

about  31 

u 

70 

It 

16 

U 

80 

71 

60 

about  4S 

u 

22 

u 

55 

<t 

50 

u 

30 

75 


In  1841. 
Leonard,  son  of  widow  Russell,  of  consumption,  about  23 

William,  son  of  James  Mills,  drowned,  13 

William  Hilton,   dysentery  and  fever,  about  60 

Hannah,  wife  of  Deacon  John  Loring,  consumption,  56 

Judith,  wife  of  Thomas  C.  Jones,  consumption,  38 

Rufus,  son  of  Artemas  Heald,  Esq.,  diabetes,  24 

Mrs.  Bickford,  wife  of  Aaron  Bickford,  fever,  22 

Thomas  Jones,  consumption  and  old  age, 
Eight  adults,  also  four  children. 
In  1842. 
Caroline,  daughter  of  Josiah  Warren,  consumption, 
Albert  B.,  son  of  William  Allen,  Esq  ,  consumption, 
A  daughter  of  Joseph  Savage,  (at  Lowell,)  fever, 
Sarah,  daughter  of  Joseph  Pratt,  fever, 
Polly,  widow  of  Dr.  Thompson,  consumption, 
Mary,  wife  of  Edward  C.  Selden,  consumption, 
John  Laughton,  one  of  the  first  settlers,  old  age, 
Thomas  McKechnie,  Esq.,  surveyor,  old  age, 
Olive,  daughter  of  Thomas  McKechnie,  Esq.,  consumption, 


Asa  Hall,  cancerous  tumor, 


20 
23 
16 
16 
56 
24 
82 
81 
39 
about  40 


120 


THE   HISTORY   OF 


John  A.  Chandler,  Esq.,  once  Clerk  of  Courts,  Kennebeck, 

consumption,  55 

Mary  Ann,  wife  of  Solomon  W.  Bates,  consumption,      about  35 
Twelve  adults,  also  twelve  children. 


In  1843. 

Mrs.  Augustie,  wife  of  Charles  Augustie, 

Levi  Leathers,  Jr., 

Elizabeth,   wife   of  Charles   Loring, 

Ira  Searle, 

Rose  Ann,  wife  of  William  P.  Longley, 

Mary,  widow  of  John  Wyman, 

Mr.  Burgess, 

Phebe,  wife  of  Josiah  Spaulding, 

Jesse  Parlin, 

Sarah,  wife  of  William  Spaulding,  Esq., 

Benjamin  Nutting, 

Lee  Nutting,  his  son, 

Sally,  wife  of  Nathan  Laughton, 

Elder  Francis  Powers,  Baptist  preacher, 

Fourteen  adults,  also  six  children. 


about  35 

23 

36 

38 

20 

about  60 

(t 

28 

iC 

83 

Ci 

58 

{( 

82 

(S 

56 

(C 

23 

IC 

33 

u 

72 

In  1844. 

Hawley  Emerson, 

Hannah,  daughter  of  Joshua  Taylor, 

Margaret,  widow  of  Edmund  Parker, 

Dr.  Jesse  Taylor, 

Abby,  wife  of  Seth  Cutler, 

Stephen  Burgess, 

Mrs  Tilton,  (widow,) 

Charles  Bowden, 

Luke  Withee, 

Powers,  an  Irishman, 

Mrs.  Jewett,  wife  of  Joshua  Jewett, 

Abby  Freeman,  consumption, 

Mrs.  Rowe,  cholera  morbus, 

Fanny,  wife  of  David  Sturgess,  cancer, 

Abel  Adams, 

Mrs.  Higgins,  wife  of  Aaron  Higgins, 

Daughter  of  Joshua  Taylor, 

Hannah,  wife  of  Amory  Prescott, 

Elisha  Lambert, 

Harrison  Prescott, 

William  Spaulding,  Esq., 

Meroe,  wife  of  Hon.  D.  Farnsworth, 

Twenty-two  adults,  also  six  children. 


77 
20 
88 

about  54 
36 

about  80 

«      75 

«      20 

84 

57 

about  60 
20 

64 
65 

about  56 
18 

about  32 
85 

about  25 
84 
44 


NORRIDGEWOCK. 

121 

In  1845. 

AGE 

Ansel  T.  Child,  son  of  John  Child, 

about  25 

Nancy,  wife  of  Abraham  W.  Freeman, 

"      63 

Benjamin  Page,  Jr., 

"      31 

A  daughter  of  Silas  Turner, 

«      16 

Margaret  J.,  wife  of  Charles  A.  Bates, 

23 

Daughter  of  Abraham  Gaffield, 

20 

Angeline  Anderson, 

16 

Mary,  wife  of  H.  G.  O.  Lindsay,  insane, 

25 

Ezekiel  Gilman,  (at  Lowell,) 

about  35 

Sarah  Hilton,  (at  Lowell,) 

16 

Ten  adults,  also  seven  children. 

In  1846. 

Lucy,  widow  of  Moriah  Gould, 

85 

Miss  Tinkham,  daughter  of  Orrin  Tinkham, 

15 

Miss  Woodman,  daughter  of  Daniel  Woodman, 

18 

Mrs.  Kilgore,  wife  of  John  Kilgore, 

40 

Philena,  wife  of  Rev.  Eusebius  Heald, 

36 

Cornelius  N.  Butler, 

about'  35 

Mrs.  Wheeler,  wife  of  William  L.  Wheeler, 

52 

Mrs.  Gray,  wife  of  Robert  Gray, 

about  30 

H   G.  O.  Lindsay, 

30 

A  son  of  Mr.  Withee, 

16 

David  Greene,  cholera  morbus, 

52 

Hannah  Wheeler, 

19 

Washington  Woodman, 

40 

Isaac  Littlefield, 

75 

Wife  of  Miles  Williams,  (colored,) 

about  45 

Fanny  Moore, 

«      50 

A  son  of  Samuel  Jones,  drowned, 

16 

A  son  of  Thomas  Cook,  drowned, 

17 

Silas  Thompson,  consumption, 

about  33 

John  M.  Taylor,  consumption, 

«      28 

Mrs.  Crosby  wife  of  Thompson  H.  Crosby,  insane, 

«      35 

Lucy,  wife  of  Thomas  Heald, 

87 

Twenty-two  adults,  also  twelve  children. 

In  1847. 

Mrs.  Witherell,  wife  of  Josiah  S.  Witherell,  insane, 

about  35 

Mary  Currier,  a  young  woman, 

— 

Reuben  Dinsmore, 

61 

Eliza  Crosby,  erysipelas, 

35 

Mary  Ann,  wife  of  Edward  C.  Selden, 

25 

Mrs.  Adams, 

— 

Susan   Raynhart, 

30 

Silas  Pratt, 

24 

Albert  Wade, 

16 

11* 

122  THE    HISTORY    OF 


Mrs.  Hight,  widow  of  Hanson  Hight,  88 

An  Englishman,  apoplexy,  about  45 

Polly ,  wife  of  Lucas  Brown,  "      50 

Julia  Ann,  wife  of  J.  P.  Boswell,  "      22 

Mrs.  Weeks,  "      80 

Mary,  widow  of  Wm.  Sylvester,  Esq.,  "      87 

Mrs.  McKeohnie,  "      34 
Fourteen  adults,  also  eight  children. 

In  1848. 

John  Marshall,  Jr.,  (by  steamboat,)  21 

William  W.  Dinsmore,  apoplexy,  63 

Ellis  Blackwell,  suicide,  58 

A  daughter  of  Joshua  Taylor,  17 

James  Adams,  Esq.,  40 

Rhoda,  widow  of  Asa  Longley,  84 

Samuel  Smith,  (at  Edgartown,)  73 

A  daughter  of  Edmund  Parker,  20 

Mary,  wife  of  Charles  D.  Farrin,  consumption,  25 

Judith  Sawyer,  consumption,  13 

Otis  Spaulding,  disease  of  liver,  53 

David  Sturgess,  Jr.,  consumption,  35 

Mrs.  Adams,  wife  of  Daniel  Adams,  40 
Thirteen  adults,  also  seven  children. 

In  1849. 

Josiah  W.,  son  of  William  Titcomb,  18 

James  Bates,  delirium  tremens,  50 

A  son  of  Lyman  Perry,  consumption,  16 

A  daughter  of  John  Taylor,  consumption,  20 

A  daughter  of  Reuben  Morton,  consumption,  about  23 

Phebe  Spaulding,  scrofula,  19 

Mrs.  Trench,  widow,  93 

A  son  of  Samuel  Jones,   by  the  kick  of  a  horse,  16 

Betsy,  wife  of  Joseph  H.  Hill,  69 
Nine  adults,  also  four  children,  to  July  1, 1849. 


The  town  has  never  had  any  public  lands,  min- 
isterial or  school  funds,  from  which  a  revenue  could 
be  derived,  but  has  always  provided  funds  prompt- 
ly, to  meet  all  necessary  expenses,  by  taxes  upon 
the  polls  and  estates.  The  following  is  a  list  of 
the  taxes  for  the  first  twelve  years. 


NORRIDGEWOCK. 

1^3 

Date. 

Highway  tax. 

School  tax. 

Town  expenses. 

Parish  tax. 

1788. 

$200,00. 

none. 

$  4,00.* 

none. 

1789. 

197,00. 

none. 

33,33. 

none. 

1790. 

333,33. 

$100,00. 

26,66-f 

none. 

1791. 

333,33. 

133,33. 

none. 

none. 

1792. 

166,66. 

none. 

33,33. 

$300,004 

1793. 

166,66. 

66,66. 

none. 

116,66. 

1794. 

266,66. 

83,33. 

66,66. 

none. 

1795. 

500,00. 

133,33. 

56,66. 

none. 

1796. 

166,66. 

100,00. 

none. 

90.00. 

1797. 

333,33. 

150,00. 

100,00. 

100,00. 

1798. 

300,00. 

150,00. 

200,00. 

100,00. 

1799. 

400,00. 

200,00. 

none. 

none. 

From  1800  to  1810,  the  highway  tax  was  in- 
creased from  $400  to  $1000;  from  1810  to  1814,  it 
was  raised  to  $2000.  It  has  been  as  high  as  $2500. 
For  the  last  two  years  it  has  been  necessary  to 
raise  but  $2000  a  year. 

From  1800  to  1803,  the  school  tax  was  $200  a 
year ;  from  1803  to  1809,  it  was  $300  yearly ;  from 
1809  to  1813,  $400;  then  $500  yearly  till  1822; 
then  $600  yearly  till  1831 ;  then  $700  a  year,  for 
ten  years.  In  1841  it  was  raised  to  $750  yearly, 
till  1847 ;  from  that  time  it  has  been  $900  yearly. 
The  town  has  always  raised  a  larger  sum  for 
schools  than  has  been  required  by  law. 

The  tax  for  town  expenses  from  1800  to  1810 
averaged  $100  a  year ;  for  the  next  twenty  years  it 


*  And  25  bushels  of  rye.     t  In  grain,     t  For  meeting  house. 


124  THE    HISTORY    OF 

averaged  $230  each  year ;  from  1831  to  1840  the 
town  expenses  exceeded  $500  a  year,  and  since 
that  time  $600  a  year.  In  1838  a  tax  of  $800  was 
raised,  to  replace  a  portion  of  the  surplus  revenue, 
which  had  been  previously  used  for  town  expenses. 

In  1814,  Rev.  Josiah  Peet  was  settled  as  a  minis- 
ter, by  the  concurrent  vote  of  the  town  and  his 
society,  with  a  salary  of  $200  a  year,  to  be  paid 
by  the  town ;  and  in  1827,  by  a  like  vote,  his  sal- 
ary was  raised  to  $400  a  year.  But  as  every  indi- 
vidual, not  a  member  of  his  society,  had  a  right  to 
withdraw  himself,  nearly  all  who  are  not  members 
of  his  church  have  withdrawn,  and  at  present  no 
assessment  of  parish  tax  is  made  by  the  assessors 
of  the  town. 

Those  who  have  stood  highest  on  the  lists  of 
taxes,  since  the  town  was  incorporated,  are :  John 
Moore,  William  Spaulding,  Eleazer  Spaulding, 
Obadiah  Witherell,  John  Ware,  Solomon  Bixby, 
Richard  Saw  telle,  Calvin  Selden,  Amos  Fletcher, 
Caleb  Jewett,  John  W.  Sawtelle,  Drummond 
Farnsworth,  Sarah  Sawtelle,  and  John  S.  Tenny. 
The  highest  three  on  the  list  for  the  present  year, 
are  D.  Farnsworth,  C.  Selden,  and  Sarah  Sawtelle. 
The  average  money  tax  on  each  farm,  stock  of  cat- 
tle, &c,  is  $15.  More  than  forty  persons  in  town 
pay  that  sum  yearly.  The  highest  tax  paid  by 
any  one  is  $78 ;  two  others  pay  over  $50  each. 

The  following  has  been  the  annual  estimate  of 
the  expenses  of  the  town  for  two  years  past,  besides 
the  highway  taxes : 


NOKRIDGEWOCK.  125 

1.  For  support  of  Schools,  $900,00 

2.  For  support  of  the  Poor,  $400 

3.  For  Selectmen  and  Assessors,  75 

4.  For  Collector's  commissions,  75 

5.  For  Sup' tending  School  Committee,    30 

6.  For  Town  Treasurer,  10 

7.  For  plank  for  bridges,  and  incidental 

expenses,  60    650,00 

1550,00 
State  tax  in  1848,  $924,  county  tax  $507,90,  1431,90 


Total,       $2981,90 

The  town  has  reposed  a  generous  confidence  in 
the  integrity  and  fidelity  of  its  officers,  which  has 
been  manifested  by  repeatedly  chosing  them  to  the 
same  office.  The  average  time  of  service  of  the 
Town  Clerk,  Selectmen,  and  Treasurer  has  been 
eight  years  each.  One  Selectman  served  ten  years, 
one  fourteen  years,  one  nineteen  years,  and  one 
twenty-two  years.  One  Treasurer  served  ten  years, 
one  eleven  years,  and  one  twelve  years.  The 
Town  Clerk  has  always  been  the  first  Selectman, 
and  the  Selectmen  have  always  been  the  Assessors. 
All  the  town  officers  now  living  have  reason  to 
congratulate  themselves  for  the  confidence  bestowed 
on  them,  and  for  the  satisfactory  adjustment  of 
their  accounts.  Those  in  office  have  manifested 
great  interest  in  promoting  the  prosperity  of  the 
town,  by  discharging  well  the  duties  of  their  office. 
No  unreasonable  claims  for  service  have  been  made 


126  THE    HISTORY    OF 

by  any  officer  during  the  last  forty  years ;  and  no 
discount  has  ever  been  made  or  requested  by  the 
town  on  any  accounts  of  town  officers  for  their  ser- 
vices during  that  time. 

The  account  of  the  first  Selectman  for  services 
has  been  from  twenty-five  to  forty  dollars  a  year ; 
each  of  the  other  Selectmen  receives  about  one  half 
as  much.  The  Collector  has  usually  had  a  com- 
mission of  two  and  one  half  per  cent  on  the  bills 
committed  to  him. 

In  1816,  when  it  was  found  necessary  to  revise 
the  inventory  of  the  town,  John  Ware,  thinking 
himself  aggrieved  by  the  Assessors,  removed  from 
the  place,  taking  with  him  nearly  one  tenth  part  of 
the  taxable  property  in  town.  But  the  town  sanc- 
tioned the  course  of  the  Assessors  by  re-electing 
them  the  next  year.  With  this  exception,  there 
has  been  comparatively  but  little  complaint  con- 
cerning taxes. 

TOWN  OFFICERS,  FROM  1788  TO  1848. 
Selectmen  and  Assessors.  Treasurer.       Collector. 

1788.  J.  Clark,  Z.  Keith,  M.  Gould,  J.  Heald,  John  Heald. 

1789.  D.  Steward,  J.  Heald,  0.  Witherell,     J.  Clark,    Jos.  Tarbell. 

1790.  D.  Steward,  J.  Heald,  S.  Wood,  J.  Clark,    B.  Thompson. 

1791.  J.  Warren,  W.  Sylvester,  J.  Splauding,  S.  Pierce,  Levi  Sampson. 

1792.  D.  Steward,  J.  Warren,  Z.  Gilman,       S.  Wood,  Josiah  Heald. 

1793.  D.  Steward,  J.  Clark,  S.  Wood,  S.  Wood,   W.Spaulding,jr. 

1794.  J.  Clark,  D.  Steward,  P.  Rogers,  S.  Wood,  P.  Gilman. 

1795.  J.  Clark,  D.  Steward,  P.  Rogers,  S.  Wood,   W.  Ward. 

1796.  J.  Spaulding,  S.  Bixby,  J.  Thompson,  S.  Wood,   D.  Lancaster. 

1797.  J.  Spaulding,  S.  Bixby,  J.  Thompson,  S.  Wood,   D.  Lancaster. 

1798.  J.Spauld'g,  0.  Witherell,  J.Thompson,  S.  Wood.   B.  Moore. 

1799.  J.  Spaulding,  0.  Witherell,  J.  Harlow,  J.  Ware,    W.Spaulding,jr. 


NORRIDGEWOCK. 


127 


Selectmen  and  Assessors.  Treasurer.        Collector. 

1800.  J.  Harlow,  0.  Witherell,  P.  Rogers,      J.  Ware,  W.  Spaulding. 

1801.  J.  Harlow,  0.  Witherell,  P.  Eogers,     J.  Ware,  W.  Spaulding. 

1802.  J.  Spaulding,  S.  Pierce,  W.  Sylvester,  J.  Ware,  E.  Lindsey. 

1803.  J.  Spaulding,  S.  Pierce,  W.  Sylvester,  S.  Wood,  E.  Lindsey. 

1804.  J.  Spaulding,  S.  Pierce,  W.  Sylvester,  S.  Wood,  W.  Spaulding. 

1805.  J.  Spaulding,  S.  Bixby,  W.  Spaulding,  S.  Wood,  E.  Lindsey. 

1806.  J.  Harlow,  S.  Bixby,  W.  Sylvester,      J.  Ware,  E.  Lindsey. 

1807.  J.  Spaulding,  W.  Sylvester,  S.  Bixby,  JohnLoring,  Sam'l  Smith. 

1808.  J.  Spaulding,  W.  Sylvester,  S.  Bixby,  J.  Loring,  S.  Smith. 

1809.  J.  Spaulding,  W.  Sylvester,  S.  Bixby,  J.  Loring,  S.  Smith. 

1810.  J.  Spaulding,  W.  Sylvester,  S.  Bixby,  J.  Loring,  John.Cook. 

1811.  J.  Spaulding,  W.  Sylvester,  S.  Bixby,  J.  Loring,  S.  Pierce. 

1812.  J.  Spaulding,  W.  Sylvester,  S.  Bixby,  J.  Loring,  S.  Pierce. 

1813.  J.  Spaulding,  W.  Sylvester,  S.  Weston,  J.  Loring,  E.  Lindsey. 

1814.  J.  Spaulding,  S.  Bixby,  S.  Weston,      J.  Loring,  E.  Lindsey. 

1815.  J.  Spaulding,  S.  Bixby,  S.  Weston,      J.  Loring,  E.  Lindsey. 
1816-7.  W.  Allen, jr.,  S.  Bixby,  D.  Steward,  J.  Loring,  O.With'relljr. 

1818.  W.  Allen.jr.,  S.  Bixby,  D.  Steward,    J.  Wright,    O.With'rell,jr. 

1819.  W.  Allen, jr.,  J.  Spaulding,  E.  Heald,  Eze.  Heald,  O.With'rell,jr. 
1820-5W.  Allen,  jr.,  E.  Heald,  S.  Philbrick,  E.  Heald,  O.With'rell jr. 
1821.  W.  Allen,  jr.,  A.  Clark,  S.  Philbrick,  E.  Heald,  U.  Spaulding. 
1822-3.  W.  Allen,  jr.,  A.  Clark,  S.  Philbrick,  M.  S.  Blunt,  Joshua  Gould. 
1824-7.  W.  Allen,  jr.,  A.  Clark,  S.  Philbrick,  M.  S.  Blunt,  T.  C.  Jones. 
1828-30.  W.  Allen,  jr.,  A.'kClark,  W.Prescott,  M.  S.  Blunt,  O.With'relljr. 

1831.  W.  Allen,jr.,  A.  Clark,  W.  Prescott,    M.  S.  Blunt,  T.  C.  Jones. 

1832.  W.  Allen,  jr.,  J.W.  Sawtelle,  A.  Shed,  M.  S.  Blunt,  T.  C.  Jones. 

1833.  A.  Clark,  jr.,  M.  Lindsey,  Z.  Withee,  M.  S.  Blunt,  T.  C.  Jones. 

1834.  W.  Allen,  jr.,  M.  Lindsey.  J.  Robbins,  M.  S.  Blunt,  Jesse  Taylor. 

1835.  A.  Clark,  W.  Prescott,  J.  Parlin,  G.Sylvester,  Jesse  Taylor. 
1836-7.  M.Lindsey,M  S.Blunt, W.L.Wheeler,  Edw.  Rowe,  E.  Rowe. 

1838.  M.  Lindsey,  M.|S.  Blunt,  J.  Davis,       E.  Rowe,       J.  Taylor.  J 

1839.  M.  Lindsey,  M.  S.  Blunt,  J,  Robbins,   E.  Rowe,       Amos  Shed. 

1840.  M.  Lindsey,  M.  S.  Blunt,  J.  Robbins,  E.  Rowe,       Wm.  Hilton. 

1841.  C.  Selden,  A.  Clark,  J.  Robbins,  C.  Sawtelle,  D.H.  Linscott. 

1842.  W.  Allen,  jr.,  A.  F.  Tilton,  S.  Robbins,  E.  Rowe,       B.F.  McLitire. 

1843.  W.  Allen^S.  Robbins,  A.  Tobey,  E.  Rowe,       B.F.  Mclntire. 

1844.  W.  Allen,  S.  Robbins,  A.  Tobey,  E.  Rowe,       Levi  Powers. 

1845.  W.  Allen,  S.  Robbins,  S.  Parlin,  D.  Danforth,L.  Powers.     ■ 
1846-7.  E.  Rowe,  S.  Robbins,  S.  Parlin,         D.  Danforth,  T.  C.  Jones. 
1848.  E.  Rowe,  S.  Robbins,  S.  Parlin,  D.  Danforth,  Chas.  Morse. 


128  THE    HISTORY    OF 


KEPRESENTATIVES  TO  THE  LEGISLATURE. 

1807.  Ithamar  Spaulding.  1831.  John  Kidder. 

1808.  John  Ware.  1832.  Cyrus  Fletcher. 

1809.  John  Ware.  1833.  Arthur  Spaulding. 

1810.  Calvin  Selden.  1834.  Arthur  Spaulding. 

1811.  Calvin  Selden.  1835.  S.  Gage,  of  East  Pond. 

1812.  Calvin  Selden.  1836.  Ebenezer  Russell. 

1813.  William  Sylvester.  1837.  John  S.  Tenney. 

1814.  William  Sylvester.  1838.  Samuel  Hutchins. 

1815.  William  Sylvester.  1839.  Melzar  Lindsey. 

1819.  Josiah  Spaulding.  1840.  Melzar  Lindsey. 

1820.  E.  Coburn,  of  Bloomfield.  1841.  W.H  .Ellis,  of  East  Pond. 

1821.  Caleb  Jewett.  1842.  Edward  Rowe. 

1822.  Jonas  Parlin,  Jr.  1843.  A.  P.  Morrill,  of  Madison. 

1823.  Jonas  Parlin,  Jr.  1844.  Abraham  W.  Freeman. 

1824.  William  Allen,  Jr.  1845.  James  Adams. 

1826.  Drummond  Farns worth.  1846.  David  Danforth. 

1827.  William  Allen.  1847.  S.  Weston,  of  Madison. 

1828.  Calvin  Selden.  1848.  Simeon  Robbins. 

1829.  Samuel  Searle. 

Delegate  to  the  Convention  to  frame  a  Constitution  for  the 
State,  in  1816  and  1819,— William  Allen,  Jr. 


In  March,  1822,  the  town,  iff  order  to  establish  a 
uniform  course  of  procedure  in  town  business, 
adopted  a  set  of  regulations,  which,  if  duly  ob- 
served, have  a.  salutary  effect,  especially  if  new 
town  officers  are  elected  —  initiating  them  immedi- 
ately into  a  knowledge  of  the  affairs  of  the  town, 
its  resources  and  liabilities.  They  have  also  a  ten- 
dency to  keep  the  finances  and  accounts  of  the 
town  open  to  the  inspection  of  every  one  —  to  pre- 
vent improper   claims    from    being  presented    for 


NORRIDGEWOCK. 


129 


allowance  in  the  hurry  of  a  town  meeting,  without 
a  full  investigation  —  and  to  assist  in  the  correct 
and  rapid  despatch  of  business  at  the  annual 
meetings. 

BY-LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS. 

Art.  1. — The  Selectmen  shall  annually,  within 
ten  days  after  their  election,  examine  the  Town 
Treasurer's  and  the  Collector's  accounts  for  the  pre- 
ceding year,  and  deface  all  orders  which  have  regu- 
larly been  drawn,  and  which  have  been  paid  by  the 
Treasurer  during  the  year ;  and  shall  make  out  and 
put  on  file  a  statement  of  the  debts  and  credits 
of  the  town,  according  to  the  Treasurer's  account. 
And  on  failure  thereof  they  shall  each  forfeit  two 
dollars,  to  be  deducted  from  the  amount  to  which 
they  may  be  entitled  for  their  other  services. 

Art.  2. — The  Town  Treasurer  shall,  at  least 
two  days,  and  not  more  than  ten  days  before  each 
annual  meeting,  and  as  much  oftener  as  may  be 
necessary,  call  on  the  Collector  and  all  others  in- 
debted to  the  town,  for  settlement,  and  within  the 
time  aforesaid,  shall  exhibit  to  the  Selectmen  a 
statement  of  the  sums  he  has  received  on  account 
of  each  tax  or  claim,  and  the  amount  he  has  paid 
during  the  year,  and  also  the  amount  due  from 
each  collector;  and  on  failure  thereof,  he  shall  for- 
feit two  dollars,  to  be  deducted  from  the  amount  to 
which  he  may  be  entitled  for  his  other  services. 

Art.  3. — Whenever  any  Collector  neglects  to 
render  an  account  to  the  Selectmen  of  his  collec- 
12 


130  THE   HISTORY   OF 

tions  and  payments,  every  two  months,  as  the  law 
requires,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Selectmen  to 
certify  the  same  to  the  Town  Treasurer,  who  shall 
thereupon  charge  such  Collector  with  the  forfeiture 
incurred  by  law  —  being  two  and  a  half  per  cent 
on  the  amount  of  his  bills. 

Art.  4. — Every  inhabitant  of  the  town  who  has 
any  claim  on  the  town  for  services  or  expenses,  or 
for  abatement  of  taxes,  shall  exhibit  the  same  to 
the  Selectmen  at  least  two  days  prior  to  the  annual 
meeting ;  and  on  failure  thereof,  (if  the  same  be 
objected  to  by  the  Selectmen,)  shall  not  be  allowed 
at  the  meeting,  and  no  suit  or  action  shall  be  sus- 
tained thereon  to  recover  it,  till  the  same  has  been 
laid  before  the  town  at  a  legal  meeting,  holden  at 
least  two  days  after  the  same  shall  have  been  ex- 
hibited to  the  Selectmen  for  examination. 

Art.  5. — The  Selectmen  shall,  two  days  before 
each  annual  meeting  in  the  month  of  March  or 
April,  make  out  and  post  up  at  the  meeting  house 
a  list  of  all  expenses  that  have  been  incurred  by 
the  town  during  the  year  preceding,  with  the  names 
of  the  persons  to  whom  the  same  is  due,  or  has 
been  paid,  including  their  own  accounts.  And 
they  shall  also  in  like  manner,  post  up  an  estimate 
of  the  taxes,  that  in  their  opinion  will  be  necessary 
io  be  raised  in  the  town  for  the  current  year ;  and 
on  failure  thereof  they  shall  forfeit  two  dollars 
each,  as  in  the  first  article. 

Art.  6. — No  money  shall  be  drawn  from  the 
treasury,  but  by  orders  signed  by  a  major  part  of 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  .  131 

the  Selectmen,  or  by  vote  of  the  town  duly  certi- 
fied ;  and  the  Selectmen  shall  keep  a  record  of  all 
orders  drawn  by  them. 

Art.  7. — The  Overseers  of  the  Poor  shall  keep  a 
record  of  all  notices  respecting  paupers,  and  of  all 
applications  for  assistance,  and  no  contract  shall  be 
made  so  as  to  bind  the  town,  unless  it  be  in  open 
town  meeting,  held  for  the  purpose,  or  by  a  major 
part  of  the  Selectmen  or  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  or 
by  an  agent  duly  authorized. 

These  By-Laws  and  Regulations  were  approved 
and  confirmed  by  the  Court  of  Sessions,  in  March, 
1822,  and  have  been  duly  observed  since  that  time. 


CHAPTER   IX. 


ROADS    AND    BRIDGES. 

Spotted  line,  New  roads,  Improvements,  River  road,  Waterville 
road,  Belgrade  road,  Coburn  road,  Gilmore  road,  Mercer  road, 
Bridges,  Toll  bridges,  Loss. 

The  want  of  communication  with  other  places 
is  the  greatest  embarrassment  in  a  new  settlement. 
The  passage  by  water,  on  the  river,  was  difficult 
and  dangerous,  but  was  submitted  to  by  our  first 
settlers  for  several  years.  Making  a  road  through 
the  woods  is  expensive,  and  much  time  is  common- 
ly required. 

The  first  communication  by  land  to  a  new  settle- 
ment is  usually  by  a  "spotted  line."  The  trees  in 
the  direction  of  the  route  are  marked  with  an  axe, 
by  hewing  off  a  chip  on  each  side,  at  such  distances 
that  the  spots  can  easily  be  seen  from  one  tree  to 
another,  while  the  underbrush  is  slightly  removed, 
so  that  a  man  can  pass  on  foot  with  a  pack.  This 
work  of  marking  the  trees  and  cutting  the  bushes, 
requires  a  man  two  days  to  a  mile.  The  path  is 
sometimes  used  in  this  condition  two  or  three  years. 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  .  133 

The  next  step  is  to  cut  out  a  road  so  that  a  pack 
horse  can  pass  in  summer,  or  teams  with  sleds  in 
winter,  this  requires  about  four  days  work  to  a 
mile.  It  is  then  called  a  sled  road,  and  is  used  in 
that  state  two  or  three  years.  Then  by  expending 
six  days  work  to  a  mile  in  building  small  bridges 
and  causeys,  and  clearing  out  obstructions,  it  is 
made  passable  in  a  rough  manner  for  carts  with 
small  loads.  In  this  rough  state  the  road  is  used 
until  by  the  incorporation  of  the  place  a  more 
thorough  course  of  making  a  highway  is  adopted. 
After  about  seven  years  in  the  ordinary  way  the 
road  becomes  passable  for  carriages. 

Twenty  years  often  elapses  from  the  time  a  new 
road  is  explored  and  the  work  commenced  on  it  by 
the  settlers  before  carriages  can  pass  with  safety. 
The  road  from  Norridgewock  to  Waterville,  was  in 
the  manner  described — first,  a  spotted  line  near  the 
river  through  Canaan  Plantation  ;  (the  distance  by 
this  route  being  twenty-five  miles;)  then  a  winter 
road  after  several  years.  Sixteen  years  after  the 
first  settlers  came  here,  the  road  was  not  made  so 
that  carts  could  pass  with  convenience. 

One  of  the  traders  in  1789,  carried  his  potash  to 
Hallowell  in  a  canoe.  Four  years  more  elapsed 
before  the  river  road,  as  it  was  called,  became  con- 
venient for  carts.  This  was  the  first  post  road,  and 
it  was  the  principal  road  to  Waterville,  and  thence 
to  Hallowell  for  ten  or  twelve  years  before  a  more 
direct  road  was  made  to  Waterville. 

In  examining  the  records  of  the  first  settlement  of 
12* 


134  THE   HISTORY    OF 

the  Friends  in  Fairfield  in  1784,  mention  is  made  of 
the  new  road  about  to  be  opened  from  their  place 
to  Heald's  Mills  in  Norridgewock.  A  road  had  then 
been  opened  from  Waterville  to  the  middle  of  the 
town  of  Fairfield. 

In  1785,  the  road  was  opened  from  Norridgewock 
to  Waterville — the  greater  part  of  the  distance  near 
the  road  now  travelled,  this  was  altered  from  time 
to  time  till  1825.  It  was  then  laid  out  in  its  present 
location,  and  made  safe  and  convenient  for  carriages 
and  has  been  kept  in  good  repair  since  that  time. 

In  1820,  the  Belgrade  road  was  opened  through 
East  Pond  settlement  and  Belgrade  to  Augusta. 
This  is  now  the  nearest  post  road  to  Augusta,  and 
the  stage  passes  over  it  every  day. 

In  1828,  the  Coburn  road  was  opened  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Augusta,  by  way  of  West  Waterville.  This 
by  many  travellers  is  considered  the  best  road  from 
Norridgewock  to  Augusta — the  distance  is  less  than 
thirty  miles.  That  part  of  the  road  which  is  in  this 
town  is  straight  and  remarkably  level. 

In  1825,  the  Gilmore  Road  was  opened,  which 
shortened  the  distance  to  Mercer  three  miles. 

In  1831,  the  Mercer  Road  was  opened,  by  which 
the  distance  to  Mercer  is  less  by  two  miles  than  by 
the  Gilmore  Road.  This  is  now  the  main  travelled 
road  from  this  town  to  the  western  part  of  the  State. 

In  1837,  a  new  road  was  made  from  South  Village 
to  Woodman's  Hill — and  during  the  same  year  the 
Walker  Road  was  opened  from  the  county  road  two 
miles  north  of  the  village  to  Madison  Bridge. 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  .  135 

In  1841,  the  Childs'  Road  was  made  in  a  direct 
line  to  Starks.  In  1844,  a  new  road  was  opened 
from  the  village  to  Searle's  Corner,  in  the  direction 
of  Madison  and  Solon,  which  is  nearly  on  a  straight 
line,  and  is  a  great  improvement  on  the  old  road. 
Various  other  alterations  and  improvements  have, 
been  made  in  the  roads  in  this  town,  so  that  but  lit- 
tle expense  will  be  necessary  to  make  a  good  road 
to  every  farm  in  town. 

The  town  supports  four  bridges  across  Sawtell's 
Mill  Stream,  each  from  sixty  to  one  hundred  and 
thirty  feet  long ;  two  across  Martin's  Stream,  and 
one  across  Old  Point  Brook.  There  are  no  other 
large  streams  in  town  or  expensive  bridges  required 
on  the  public  roads. 

In  1810,  a  toll  bridge  was  built  across  the  Ken- 
nebec in  this  town,  at  an  expense  of  three  thousand 
dollars.  It  was  five  hundred  and  fifty  feet  long, 
built  on  trusses  or  bands  about  one  hundred  feet 
apart,  with  balance  timbers  and  stringers,  support- 
ed by  long  braces,  and  wholly  of  wood.  A  part  of 
it  was  carried  away  by  the  ice  in  March  following. 
It  was  repaired  and  made  more  secure  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1811,  at  an  expense  of  twelve  hundred  dol- 
lars. This  stood  with  but  trifling  repairs  till  the 
timber  decayed,  and  it  was  carried  away  in  March 

1826.  The  tolls  having  nearly  paid  the  original 
cost,  the  proprietors  obtained  a  new  charter  and 
built  a  bridge  near  the  old  ferry  on  stone  piers  in 

1827,  which  cost  seven  thousand  dollars.  This  was 
carried  away  the  last  day  of  March  1831. 


136  THE    HISTORY    OF 

In  1835,  a  new  set  of  proprietors  obtained  a  char- 
ter and  built  a  bridge  where  the  first  one  stood,with 
stringers  resting  on  trusses,  and  balance  timbers, 
and  supported  by  king  posts  with  iron  stirrups,  at 
an  expense  of  five  thousand  dollars.  This  was  car- 
ried away  by  a  winter  freshet  in  January  1839.  It 
was  rebuilt  the  same  year  at  an  expense  of  four 
thousand  three  hundred  dollars,  besides  the  materi- 
als saved  from  the  old  bridge,  valued  at  one  thou- 
sand dollars.  This  was  again  carried  away  by  the 
ice  in  March  1846. 

The  proprietors  being  discouraged  by  their  losses 
gave  way  to  a  new  set  in  1848,  who  contracted  for 
a  good  substantial  bridge,  to  be  built  in  a  workman- 
like manner,  on  two  stone  piers,  thirty-five  feet 
high,  with  stone  abutments.  The  bridge  to  be  built 
with  lattice  work  on  Town's  plan,  the  whole  to  be 
completed  the  first  day  of  October,  1849,  for  eleven 
thousand  dollars.  The  loss  to  the  proprietors  by 
the  second  bridge,  was  six  thousand  dollars ;  by  the 
third  bridge,  three  thousand  ;  by  the  fourth  bridge, 
two  thousand  ;  making  the  whole  loss  eleven  thou- 
sand dollars  above  the  tolls  received. 


CHAPTER    X 


DESCRIPTION   OF    NORRIDGEWOCK. 

Beauty  of  the  Village,  Public  Buildings,  Court  House,  Jail, 
Meeting-house,  Academy,  Population,  Agriculture,  Mechan- 
ics, Merchants,  Professional  men,  Education,  Benevolent 
Societies. 

All  strangers,  who  visit  this  place  admire  the  lo- 
cation of  the  quiet  and  beautiful  Village  of  Norridge- 
wock. 

To  the  traveller  proceeding  up  the  river,  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  Village,  as  he  approaches  it,  is  pe- 
culiarity pleasant.  The  road  winds  along  the  bank 
of  the  Kennebec.  On  the  opposite  side,  the  high- 
lands approach  the  stream  with  bold  and  rugged 
banks  covered  with  trees  and  tangled  shrubbery ; 
in  other  places  they  retire  in  gentle  slopes,  exhibiting 
beautiful  meadows,  cultivated  fields,  and  orchards 
surrounding  the  comfortable  dwellings  of  the  inhab- 
itants. The  spire  of  the  village  church  just  peers 
above  the  green  trees  clustered  around,  and  glimpses 
of  the  buildings  are  seen  among  the  thick  branches. 

The  village  is  on  a  level  plain,  elevated  about 
thirty  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  river  at  low  wa- 


138 


THE   HISTORY    OF 


ter.  The  combinations  of  nature  and  art  are  here, 
such  as  to  make  a  favorable  impression  on  the  most 
casual  observer.  The  spacious  level  street,  leading 
through  the  village,  lined  with  large  *trees  of  differ- 
ent kinds;  the  neat  and  comfortable  appearance  of 
the  various  buildings,  well  adapted  to  the  purposes 
for  which  they  were  erected ;  the  smooth  surface  of 
the  river  to  be  seen  sweeping  in  its  course  with  a 
gentle  current  around  the  curve  between  this  village 
and  the  village  on  the  south  side  of  the  river  ;  the 
new  and  thriving  appearance  of  the  latter ;  and  the 
surrounding  scenery,  are  all  objects  of  admiration. 
The  cemetery  below  the  village,  neatly  and  appro- 
priately enclosed,  with  a  substantial  and  finished 
fence,  shaded  with  the  oak,  the  maple,  the  butter- 
nut and  the  elm,  and  profusely  sprinkled  over  with 
wild  roses,  attracts  attention  and  adds  to  the  repu- 
tation of  the  place. 

Among  the  public  buildings  is  the  meeting-house 
originally  built  in  old  style,  but  remodeled  in  1837. 
The  lower  floor  is  divided  into  a  vestry  and  town- 
hall,  [and  the  upper  part  conveniently  finished  for 
a  church. 

The  court-house  is  built  of  brick,  fifty  feet  by 
forty,  with  an  addition  of  eighteen  feet  on  one  end, 
containing  an  excellent  fire-proof  vault  for  the  safe 
keeping  of  the  county  records,  a  large  entry  and 
stairway  on  the  lower  floor,  with  a  belfry  and  tower 

*One  large  willow  growing  in  the  village,  measures  20  feet  around 
the  base,  and  three  feet  above  the  ground,  it  is  18  feet  and  1  inch  in 
circumference. 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  »  139 

above.  The  lower  floor  of  the  body  of  the  house  is 
divided  into  four  apartments,  with  an  entry  and 
passage  way  between  the  rooms,  and  a  passage  way 
from  this  to  the  other  entry  at  the  stair  way.  One 
of  the  front  rooms,  twenty  feet  square,  is  for  the 
clerk's  office,  the  other  of  the  same  size  is  for  the 
register  of  deeds  office ;  one  of  the  back  rooms  is 
for  the  grand  jury,  and  the  other  is  the  office  of  the 
county  treasurer.  The  court  hall  is  on  the  second 
floor,  finished  in  good  style  and  suitably  furnished 
with  desks,  tables  and  chairs.  The  chairs  for  the 
judges  and  jurors  are  cushioned.  The  floor  is  car- 
peted and  seats  are  fitted  up  convenient  for  specta- 
tors. The  house  was  built  in  1820,  and  cost  over 
four  thousand  dollars  ;  the  additions  and  alterations 
in  1847,  cost  about  three  thousand  dollars.  The 
building  has  now  a  slated  roof. 

The  jail  was  built  of  stone  in  1810,  and  cost  two 
thousand  dollars.  It  is  two  stories  high,  with  three 
rooms  on  each  floor  and  an  entry.  A  Jail  House 
was  built  of  brick  in  1826,  which  cost  seventeen 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  This  house  is  occupied 
by  the  jailer,  and  extends  over  the  attic  story  of  the 
jail  to  which  it  is  attached.  One  of  the  rooms  in  the 
building  serves  for  the  jailer's  office. 

A  brick  building  was  erected  in  1813,  which  cost 
one  thousand  dollars,  and  is  now  used  for  a  probate 
office. 

The  school-house  in  the  village  is  large,  neat  and 
convenient,  and  cost  over  seven  hundred  dollars. 

The  Somerset  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  own  a  large 


140  THE    HISTORY   OF 

brick  edifice  in  the  village,  in  the  third  story  of 
which  they  have  a  spacious  hall  fitted  up  and  fur- 
nished for  the  purpose  of  their  order. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  river  there  is  a  meeting- 
house forty-five  feet  by  forty,  built  in  1843,  more 
than  half  of  which  is  owned  by  the  Calvinist  Bap- 
tist, one  fourth  part  by  the  Methodist,  and  one  eighth 
by  the  Free-will  Baptist.  The  house  is  convenient- 
ly situated,  and  is  finished  and  furnished  in  good 
style. 

The  Female  Academy  on  this  side  of  the  river, 
was  erected  in  1837,  by  the  voluntary  contribution 
of  individuals.  The  edifice  is  of  brick,  and  cost  one 
thousand  dollars,  and  is  in  an  eligible  situation, 
near  the  junction  of  five  county  roads.  The  land 
was  given  to  the  institution  by  Dr.  Amos  Towns- 
end,  who  also  contributed  one  hundred  dollars 
towards  the  erection  of  the  building.  It  is  finished 
in  a  convenient  manner,  with  moveable  desks  and 
chairs  to  accommodate  forty  pupils.  There  are  re- 
citation rooms  and  some  apparatus.  The  institution 
is  at  present  in  successful  operation,  with  twenty 
pupils  under  the  tuition  of  Miss  Mary  Croswell.  No 
more  eligible  situation  can  be  found  in  New  Eng- 
land, and  the  academy  should  receive  a  more  liberal 
patronage.  The  officers  of  the  institution  are  Rev. 
Josiah  Peet,  President;  Drummond  Farns worth, 
Secretary;  Amos  Townsend,  Treasurer;  John  S. 
Tenney,  Calvin  Selden,  John  S.  Abbott,  William 
Allen,  Hannibal  Ingalls,  Trustees.  Miss  Emily 
Ballard  was  the  first  Preceptress,  afterwards  Miss 


\    NORRIDGEWOCK.  *  141 

Howe,  Miss  Tower,  Miss  Dunlap,  Miss  Hanscomb, 
Miss  Anderson,  and  Miss  Croswell. 

A  meeting-house  was  built  on  Oak  Hill,  in  the 
south-west  corner  of  the  town  in  1836,  by  the  Cal- 
vinist  Baptists  and  other  denominations,  which  cost 
twelve  hundred  dollars. 

There  are  thirty-five  dwelling  houses  in  each  of 
the  two  villages,  and  there  are  twenty  shops  and 
offices  in  both.  In  the  south  village,  there  is  a  good 
flour-mill,  saw-mill,  fulling-mill,  and  carding  ma- 
chine. The  county  buildings  are  in  the  north  vil- 
lage, which  is  one  mile  south-east  from  the  centre 
of  the  town  ;  thirty  miles  north  from  Augusta,  eigh- 
ty-five miles  north-east  from  Portland,  fifty-five 
miles  west  from  Bangor,  and  twenty-two  miles  east 
from  Farmington. 

The  town  now  contains  two  thousand  inhabitants ; 
of  whom,  four  hundred  and  thirty  are  legal  voters. 
Eight  hundred  and  thirty  are  returned  as  scholars 
over  four,  and  under  twenty-one  years  of  age.  There 
are  three  meeting-houses,  an  academy,  and  fifteen 
school-houses  in  town. 

Agriculture  now  furnishes  employment  and  sup- 
port for  the  inhabitants  generally,  and  those  who 
make  it  their  principal  occupation,  and  manage 
their  business  prudently,  live  independently  and 
accumulate  property.  More  than  one  fifth  part  of 
the  town  is  cultivated  yearly  for  tillage  and  mowing, 
and  there  are  more  than  four  thousand  acres  of  pas- 
turage. There  was  formerly  a  considerable  quan- 
tity of  pine  timber  in  the  town  ;  but  little  now 
13 


142  THE   HISTORY   OF 

remains,  not  exceeding  fifty  acres,  and  that  is  in 
detached  parcels,  and  mostly  of  a  second  growth. 

The  staple  productions  have  been  corn,  oats, 
wheat  and  potatoes.  The  products  of  the  dairy 
are  abundant.  Beef  and  pork  are  raised  in  large 
quantities,  and  sheep  and  wool  for  market.  The 
various  kinds  of  vegetables  are  raised  in  abundance 
for  home  consumption. 

By  the  last  State  Valuation  taken  in  1843,  the 
various  taxable  items  were  returned  as  follows  : 
Number  of  dwelling  houses,         -        -         236 
Number  of  barns  and  other  buildings,  378 

Number  of  stores,  shops  and  offices,  -  17 
Number  of  tons  English  hay  cut  annually  2482 
Number  of  tons  of  meadow  hay         "  26 

Number  of  acres  of  pasturage,          -  3765 

Number  of  horses  and  colts,  -  -  267 
Number  of  oxen,  cows,  steers  and  heifers,  1365 
Number  of  sheep,         -  4594 

Number  of  swine,  -  -  -  -  456 
Number  of  pleasure  carriages,  chaises,  &c.  28 
Amount  of  stock  in  trade,  -  -  $4,840 
Amount  of  Bank  stock,         -         -  11,200 

Amount  of  money  at  interest,         -  14,730 

Total  value  of  real  estate,  -  -  194,777 
Total  value  of  personal  estate,  ~  60,388 
Number  of  acres  of  woodland,         -  2,932 

Number  of  acres  of  unimproved  land  be- 
sides woodland,         -  13,160 
Number  of  acres  of  unimprovable  or  waste 
land, 915 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  *  143 

MINERAL  SPRING. 

There  is  a  mineral  spring  in  this  town,  on  land 
owned  by  Calvin  Selden,  Esq.  about  one  third  of  a 
mile  north  of  the  court-house,  on  the  old  road  lead- 
ing to  Madison. 

An  imperfect  analysis  of  the  waters  has  been 
made,  and  it  is  ascertained  that  they  contain  a 
minute  portion  of  iron  and  lime,  combined  with 
carbonic  acid,  and  also  the  sulphate  of  soda  and 
magnesia,  which  render  them  not  only  alterative 
and  laxative,  but  gently  tonic. 

Though  the  waters  of  this  spring  contain  ingre- 
dients in  very  small  relative  proportions,  yet  perhaps 
they  will  be  found,  on  that  very  account,  more 
likely  to  be  absorbed  into  the  system,  and  to  effect 
cures,  when  larger  doses  of  the  same  remedy  would 
fail.  It  is  this  very  circumstance  which  renders 
this  spring  worthy  of  public  consideration.  It  issues 
from  between  the  strata  of  limestone,  the  foundation 
rock  of  this  town. 


Mechanics,  who  are  always  necessary  for  the 
prosperity  and  convenience  of  every  place,  have  not 
abounded  in  this  town  as  in  some  other  places.  But 
few  articles  have  been  manufactured  here  beyond 
the  wants  of  the  inhabitants.  Improvements  have 
been  made  in  this  respect,  and  most  of  the  mechanic 
arts  necessary  for  the  comfort  of  the  community, 
are  now  prosecuted  with  success. 

There  are  seven  stores  for  retailing  merchandize, 
all  of  which  are  doing  good  business  on  a  moderate 


144 


THE   HISTORY   OP 


scale.  There  are  some  enterprising  business  men  in 
town,  but  few  who  are  called  rich,  and  but  few  who 
are  really  poor.  The  greater  part  of  the  inhabitants 
are  in  moderate  and  thriving  circumstances.  The 
ardor  of  some  of  the  most  active  business  men  was 
damped  by  the  effects  of  the  land  and  timber  specu- 
lation some  years  since,  when  considerable  loss  was 
sustained  by  some  of  the  most  prudent.  They  have 
generally  recovered  from  the  shock,  and  there  is 
evidently  now  an  accumulation  of  property  from 
year  to  year. 

There  are  now  three  clergymen,  four  counsellors 
at  law,  and  three  practicing  physicians. 

We  have  three  houses  of  entertainment,  all  of 
which  furnish  the  best  of  accommodations  to  travel- 
lers and  sojourners,  and  it  is  presumed  that  none  of 
them  furnish  ardent  spirits,  to  be  used  as  a  beverage. 


Hotels. — The  hotels  at  Norridgewock,  are  wor- 
thy of  commendation.  Travellers  and  visitors 
speak  highly  of  their  entertainment  at  all  of  our 
public  houses. 

For  thirty-five  years,  Mr.  Danforth  has  occupied 
his  stand,  where  the  traveller  finds  a  home  and  a 
landlord  attentive  to  his  wants. 

The  house  formerly  kept  by  Mr.  Pike.  Geo.  Free- 
man, Hapgood  &  Brown,  has  recently  been  purchas- 
ed by  Silas  W.  Turner,  whose  excellent  accommoda- 
ions  give  good  satisfaction  to  the  public. 

Mr.  Sawyer  has  built  a  large  house  of  entertain- 
ment in  the  South  Village,  which  is  well  furnished 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  145 

and  good  attention  is  there  paid  to  the  wants  of 
travellers. 

One  of  the  Judges  of  the  S.  J.  Court  resides  in  this 
place.  The  town  has  also  furnished  at  different 
times  three  Judges  of  Probate,  three  members  of 
Congress,  three  Senators,  a  member  of  the  executive 
council,  an  elector  of  President,  a  superintendent  of 
the  Insane  Hospital,  many  county  officers  since  the 
first  establishment  of  the  county,  and  military  offi- 
cers of  all  grades  in  large  numbers  up  to  a  Major 
General. 

The  town  schools  are  generally  well  attended  and 
well  conducted.  Great  efforts  have  been  made 
within  three  years  past  to  elevate  their  character. 
Thecommitte  have  been  vigilant,  and  have  devoted 
much  of  their  time  to  the  duties  of  their  office.  A 
full  report  of  the  state  of  each  school  is  annually 
made  and  read  in  open  town  meeting.  This  report 
is  listened  to  with  attention,  and  the  schools  are 
evidently  improving.  The  Sabbath  Schools  are  a 
credit  to  the  place,  being  attended  by  nearly  all  the 
children  of  the  villages,  and  by  many  who  live 
remote  from  the  places  of  meeting. 

There  are  several  societies  in  town  instituted  for 
moral  and  benevolent  purposes.  The  Somerset 
Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  have  stated  meetings  in  their 
hall,  avowedly  for  humane  and  benevolent  purpo- 
ses. They  have  contributed  largely  to  the  relief  of 
the  sick  and  afflicted  of  their  order  during  the  past 
year. 

Intemperance,  the  parent  of  vice  and  misery  has 
13* 


146  THE    HISTORY   OF 

been  checked  in  this  town.  Some  who  were  in  the 
road  to  ruin  have  been  reclaimed,  and  the  good 
effects  of  the  temperance  reformation  are  every 
where  visible.  There  is  less  idleness  and  poverty. 
Dwelling  houses  are  kept  in  repair,  and  more  com- 
fortable and  pleasant.  The  members  of  the  Martha 
Washington  Society  deserve  credit  for  their  efforts 
to  aid  the  poor,  to  relieve  the  distressed,  and  to 
assist  the  Washingtonians  in  their  good  work. 

Other  benevolent  and  religious  societies  combine 
their  efforts  to  do  good. 

On  the  whole,  the  town  now  furnishes  a  fine 
specimen  of  New  England  habits  and  manners. 
We  have  the  church  and  the  school  house ;  and  the 
general  character  of  the  inhabitants  for  intelligence, 
industry  and  good  order,givesa  desirable  reputation 
to  the  place.  Surrounded  with  beautiful  scenery, 
the  inhabitants  of  this  town  enjoy  many  privileges 
and  blessings  which  call  for  devout  gratitude  and 
thankfulness  to  the  bountiful  Giver  of  all  good. 
"  The  lines  have  fallen  unto  us  in  pleasant  places, 
and  we  have  a  goodly  heritage." 

Nothing  now  remains  for  the  present  generation, 
but  to  practice  the  frugality  of  their  ancestors,  imi- 
tate their  virtues,  avoid  their  errors,  improve  the 
privileges  they  enjoy,  and  be  contented,  grateful, 
benevolent  and  happy. 


CHAPTER    XI. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES. 

James  Waugh,  J,  Waugh  Jr.,  John  Clark,  Oliver  Wood,  Moriah 
Gould,  William  Faine,  Peter  Gilman,  Solomon  Bixby,  John 
Ware,  Richard  Sawtelle,  William  Sylvester,  W.  W.  Dinsmore; 
Lawyers,  Physicians,  Traders. 

"  But  there  are  deeds  that  should  not  be  forgot, 
And  names  that  must  not  wither." 

JAMES  WAUGH,  ESQ. 

James  Waugh  Esq.,  late  of  Starks,  a  native  of 
Townsend,  Mass.,  came  to  this  place  in  1774.  He 
settled  upon  alot  at  the  "great  ox  bow"  on  Sandyriv- 
er,  then  called  Little  Norridgewock,  which  was  con- 
sidered within  the  precincts  of  Norridgewock  until 
the  town  was  incorporated.  His  lot  contained  a  hun- 
dred acres  of  rich  intervale,  and  is  now  the  most 
productive  farm  in  the  county  of  Somerset.  It  is 
owned  by  his  son  John  Waugh,  and  James  M. 
Hilton.  Having  built  a  log  house,  and  made  prepa- 
ration for  raising  a  crop  of  corn,  he  was  married  to 
Bathsheba  Fairfield  of  Vassalborough,  a  woman  of 
eminent  talents  and  a  well  cultivated  mind ;  and 
immediately  removed  to  his  log  cabin  in  the  begin- 


148  THE    HISTORY   OF 

ning  of  the  winter  of  1774-5.  His  first  son,  James 
Waugh,  Jr.,  was  born  the  following  year,  being  the 
first  male  child  born  of  English  parents  within  the 
limits  of  the  county. 

He  was  a  man  of  sound  discretion  and  unblem- 
ished reputation,  honored  and  respected  by  his 
townsmen  and  by  all  who  knew  him.  For  a  long 
time  the  new  settlers  looked  to  him  for  council  and 
advice.  When  danger  was  apprehended  from  the 
Indians,  he  was  appointed  captain  of  the  guard  ; 
and  after  the  incorporation  of  the  town  of  Starks, 
he  was  chosen  Town  Clerk  and  Selectman  from 
year  to  year,  as  long  as  he  was  able  to  attend  to 
business.  He  was  a  delegate  from  his  town  for 
framing  the  Constitution  of  the  State;  and  for  many 
years  was  an  acting  magistrate  of  the  County. 
All  his  duties  were  discharged  with  discretion  and 
benevolence. 

On  one  occasion  a  townsman  was  brought  before 
him  for  some  criminal  offence.  The  evidence  of  his 
guilt  was  so  conclusive  on  the  examination,  that  he 
was  sentenced  to  pay  a  fine  and  the  costs.  The 
culprit  was  poor  and  friendless,  and  unable  to 
pay  the  fine :  the  officer  was  about  to  carry  him  to 
jail,  when  the  magistrate,  having  pity  as  he  said, 
on  the  wretch,  paid  the  fine  and  cost  for  him, 
admonished  him  to  beware  of  a  second  offence,  as 
he  might  fare  worse,  and  let  him  go  without  taking 
any  security  for  the  money  he  had  advanced.  He 
afterwards  said  that  he  should  not  regret  it,  if  he 
never   received  the  money,  as  the  man  was  poor, 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  149 

and  if  he  had  been  carried  to  jail  his  family  must 
have  suffered,  and  he  believed  the  man  repented 
of  his  misconduct,  and  was  never  known  afterwards 
to  commit  an  offence. 

He  received  ample  returns  for  his  labor  in  culti- 
vating his  farm,  and  in  times  of  scarcity  was  always 
able  to  afford  relief  to  those  who  needed  assistance, 
dealing  out  his  surplus  stores  in  small  quantities  to 
each,  without  regard  to  their  ability  to  make  him 
compensation.  Near  the  close  of  his  life,  his  sons 
found  that  a  large  amount  of  provisions  thus  dealt 
out  to  poor  persons  was  charged  upon  his  books 
which  was  never  paid ;  they  never  knew  him  to 
attempt  to  enforce  payment  by  legal  process. 

He  lived  to  old  age  on  the  farm  where  he  settled, 
raised  up  a  large  family,  and  died  in  1826,  honored 
and  lamented. 

His  son,  James  Waugh,  Jr.,  who  died  in  this 
town  in  1818,  was  born,  as  has  been  stated,  in  1775. 
He  was  educated  by  his  parents,  never  having  had 
any  opportunity  to  attend  school,  except  for  three 
months  at  a  woman's  school ;  but  his  education  at 
the  fireside,  his  natural  ability  and  his  taste  for 
reading  were  such  that  he  acquired  a  good  knowl- 
edge of  books,  was  a  shrewd  observer  of  men  and 
things,  could  express  his  opinions  with  propriety, 
and  became  qualified  to  fill  any  office  in  the  State. 

He  was  an  ingenious  and  skillful  mechanic,  and 
was  beloved  and  respected  by  a  large  circle  of  friends 
and  connections.  He  frequently  represented  his 
native  town  in  the  Legislature ;  was  Chief  Justice 


150  THE    HISTORY    OF 

of  the  Court  of  Sessions;  had  command  of  a  regi- 
ment of  the  Militia,  and  sustained  sundry  important 
civil  offices  in  the  county  for  several  years,  in  a 
manner  highly  creditable  to  himself,  and  satisfactory 
to  the  public.  As  an  officer,  he  was  intelligent  and 
active ;  as  a  magistrate,  firm  and  discreet,  and  as 
a  man,  upright  and  benevolent. 

JOHN  CLARK. 

John  Clark,  late  of  this  town,  was  born  in 
Townsend,  Mass.,  in  1753;  came  to  this  place  in 
1774,  and  selected  a  lot  for  settlement,  intending  to 
commence  clearing  it  the  next  year,  but  was  pre- 
vented by  the  war.  He  was  detached  in  the  militia 
and  enlisted  for  nine  months  and  served  in  the  army. 
He  was  in  the  breast- work  at  the  battle  of  Bunker 
Hill,  and  retreated  for  more  than  half  a  mile  amidst 
showers  of  balls  and  grape  shot,  when  men  were 
falling  on  every  side.  He  said  that  at  every  dis- 
charge from  the  British,  the  balls  rattled  around 
him,  reminding  him  of  a  farmer  sowing  peas. 
Nothing  but  an  overruling  Providence  protected  him; 
and  the  impressions  made  upon  his  mind  at  that 
time,  were  never  effaced.  He  felt  the  need  of  a 
preparation  for  death,  and  in  after  times  made 
religion  the  business  of  his  life.  After  he  was 
discharged  he  came  again  to  this  place,  and  took 
possession  of  the  village  lot,  and  worked  here  during 
the  summers  of  1776  and  1777 ;  then  went  to 
Townsend,  was  married  and  returned  with  his  wife 
late  in  November.  As  there  were  no  roads  that 
were  then  passable,  he  came  from  Hallowell  in  a 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  151 

canoe  with  his  wife  and  effects,  amidst  the  snow 
and  ice,  and  arrived  safely  at  their  log  cabin.  Suc- 
cessful in  clearing  his  land  and  raising  crops,  he 
soon  obtained  a  competency  for  himself  and  family. 

Mr.  Clark  soon  made  a  profession  of  religion,  and 
meetings  upon  the  Sabbath  were  held  at  his  house. 
Associated  with  Deacon  Longley,  Moriah  Gould  and 
others  who  had  been  members  of  the  Congregation- 
al church  in  Massachusetts,  he  was  always  active 
in  the  social  meetings,  and  thence  acquired  the  title 
of  Deacon,  although  no  church  was  organized  at 
that  time.  In  1794,  when  the  Methodist  preachers 
visited  this  place,  Deacon  Clark  united  with  the 
first  Methodist  class  that  was  formed  in  Norridge- 
wock. 

He  established  a  ferry,  and  kept  a  house  of 
entertainment.  He  was  chosen  the  first  Town 
Clerk  and  Selectman,  which  offices  he  filled  for 
several  years  with  fidelity. 

Deacon  Clark  was  mild  and  conciliatory  in  his 
manners  and  conversation,  easy  and  accommo- 
dating in  matters  of  business,  and  a  useful  member 
of  society.  He  raised  up  a  large  family,  and 
died  in  this  town,  September,  1832,  having  had  his 
name  placed  upon  the  Pension  list  a  short  time 
before  his  death. 

One  of  his  sons,  Asa  Clark,  who  is  now  living, 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Executive  Council,  and 
held  other  important  offices  in  town,  county  and 
State,  by  repeated  re-elections  for  moreUhan  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century. 


152  THE   HISTORY    OF 

OLIVER  WOOD,  ESQ. 

Oliver  Wood  was  for  a  long  time  the  only  acting 
Justice  of  the  Peace  in  this  town.  He  was  advanced 
in  years,  and  had  sons  of  age  when  he  came  here 
in  ]  774.  For  some  time  he  acted  as  an  agent  for 
the  Plymouth  Company,  and  was  vigilant  and  atten- 
tive to  his  duties. 

He  was  what  might  be  called  a  gentleman  of  the 
old  school,  requiring  a  strict  observance  of  the  rules 
and  forms  of  law  so  far  as  he  understood  them.  Often 
called  upon  to  hear  complaints,  he  imposed  small 
fines  which  are  now  winked  at,  such  as  sabbath 
breaking,  defamatory  words,  trespasses  &c.  He 
probably  solemnized  more  marriages  than  any 
magistrate  has  since  done  in  the  county.  He  was 
a  professor  of  religion,  and  lived  to  old  age. .  He 
attempted  to  do  some  business  as  a  magistrate  after 
his  commission  had  expired.  One  couple,  some 
years  after  he  married  them,  ascertained  that  he 
was  not  a  Justice  at  the  time,  and  that  they  had  not 
been  legally  united  in  wedlock,  were  remarried  after 
they  had  a  family  of  children.  The  following  extract 
from  this  Justice's  Record  may  be  of  interest. 

"Be  it  remembered,  that  on  the  first  day 
of  June,  1786,  Calvin  Paine  appeared  and  com- 
plained  of  himself  for  breach   of  the  Sabbath." 

Six  others  that  year,  and  as  many  the  preceeding, 
complained  of  themselves  for  a  similar  offence. 

"July  22,  17S6.  Be  it  remembered  that  Benja- 
min Hilton  was  complained  of  for  breach  of  the  Sab  - 
bath  for  which  he  paid  ten  shillings  fine." 


NORRIDGEWOCK. 


153 


"Lincoln  ss.  October  22,  1789,  Mr.  Christopher 
Webb,  of  Canaan  complained  of  himself  for  breach 
of  Peace;  fined  2s.  and  certificate  ls=3s.' ' 

"  Dec.  19,  1786.  Morris  Fling,  of  Hebron  was 
found  guilty  of  throwing  down  Mr.  Ferguson's 
fence,  and  fined  twenty  shillings." 

"Oct.  25,  1788.  Caleb  Piper,  of  Seven  mile 
Brook,  made  oath  that  he  received  a  counterfeit  note 
of  the  State  of  Vermont,  of  Moses  Wiley  of  Tem- 
pleton,  in  the  county  of  Worcester,  before  me  Oliver 
Wood,  Esq." 

"  April  28,  1785.  This  day  was  married  Calvin 
Piper,  to  Zeruiah  Parker,  both  of  Norridgewock,  by 
Oliver  Wood  Esq. 

One  hundred  and  twenty  other  marriages  are 
entered  in  the  same  form,  between  April,  1785  and 
Feb.  1,  1798.     One  is  entered  thus : 

"  July  20,  1793.  Personally  appeared  William 
Fairbrother  and  Miss  Ruth  Medcalf,  and  took  each 
other  as  husband  and  wife,  and  agreed  to  live  to- 
gether as  such.     Before  me,  Oliver  Wood,  Esq." 

Ephiram  Wood,  late  of  Bingham,  was  a  son  of 
Oliver  Wood,  Esq.,  and  one  of  the  first  settlers.  He 
lived  in  this  town  for  several  years,  respected  for 
his  intelligence  and  Christian  character.  He  removed 
to  Bingham,  where  he  died  in  1842. 

Silas  Wood,  another  son  of  Oliver  Wood,  Esq., 
was  a  soldier  in  the  army,  and  came  to  this  place 
soon  after  his  father,  and  was  long  esteemed  as  one 
of  the  principal  men  of  the  place.  He  was  often 
chosen  Selectman  and  Town  Treasurer,  and  was  a 
14 


154 


THE    HISTORY   OF 


man  of  integrity.  He  acquired  a  good  estate,  and 
a  short  time  before  his  death  he  was  placed  on  the 
pension  list.  Having  suffered  from  age  and  infirmi- 
ty for  many  years,  he  died  in  1834,  aged  eighty. 
His  aged  widow  is  still  living  in  Chestervllte,  a 
worthy  woman  and  a  pensioner. 

Simon  Pierce,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this 
town.  He  came  here  with  his  father,  and  though 
a  young  man,  he  had  served  as  a  soldier  with  his 
father  in  the  Revolution.  He  married  a  daughter 
of  Oliver  Wood,  Esq.,  was  a  man  of  talents  and 
integrity,  and  an  active  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church.  Mr.  Pierce  was  highly  respected 
by  the  inhabitants  of  this  town,  and  was  repeatedly 
chosen  a  member  of  the  board  of  Selectmen.  He 
removed  to  Chesterville  in  1813,  and  died  soon  after. 

MORIAH  GOULD. 

Moriah  Gould  was  one  of  the  early  settlers.  He 
had  been  a  soldier  of  the  revolution,  and  was  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  a  pensioner  under  the  act  of 
1818.  He  was  a  member  of  the  first  board  of  Se- 
lectmen, and  was  highly  respected  for  his  consistent 
christian  character.  He  was  eminently  pious,  and 
a  pillar  in  the  church,  often  taking  the  lead  in 
devotional  exercises  when  no  preacher  was  present, 
and  his  prayers  were  fervent,  Scriptural  and  remark- 
ably appropriate.  His  manners  were  exemplary, 
and  his  conversation  always  devotional.  He  became 
lame  and  was  under  the  necessity  of  having  one 
leg  amputated  about  twenty  years  before  his  death. 
He  died  September,  1826,  aged  72  years. 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  155 

REV.  WILLIAM  PAINE. 

Elder  Paine,  who  died  a  few  years  since  at  Anson, 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  this  town.  He  was 
a  minister  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  order.  When 
questioned  in  the  S.  J.  Court,  as  to  the  place  of  his 
settlement  and  ordination,  he  replied  that  he  was 
"regularly  ordained  to  preach  wherever  God  in  his 
providence  should  call  him."  He  was  a  man  of 
strong  sympathies,  and  familiar  with  the  Scriptures. 
His  pathos  and  aptness  of  illustration,  though  often 
somewhat  fanciful,  rendered  his  preaching  highly 
interesting.  He  preached  many  years  without  fee 
or  reward,  depending  on  his  farm  for  support. 
Every  one  who  knew  him  considered  him  an  excel- 
lent man.  He  was  always  listened  to  with  attention, 
and  treated  by  all  with  becoming  respect.  He  was 
a  Revolutionary  Pensioner. 

PETER  GILMAN. 

Peter  Gilman  was  born  in  Pembroke,  N.  H. 
Came  to  this  town  when  young,  soon  after  his  mar- 
riage, and  resided  here  till  old  age.  He  was  more 
extensively  known  than  any  other  man  in  town, 
being  the  first  mail  carrier  between  this  place  and 
Hallowell.  When  a  Post  Office  was  first  established 
in  this  town  there  was  no  road  passable  for  carriages, 
and  he  carried  the  mail  on  horse-back  for  twenty 
years,  following  the  course  of  the  river  forty  five 
miles,  and  back  once  a  week. 

When  the  road  became  passable  for  carriages,  he 
went  with  a  wagon  or  coach  ten  or  fifteen  years, 


156 


THE    HISTORY   OF 


till  the  infirmities  of  age  came  upon  him.  He  was 
a  faithful,  active  man,  always  attentive  to  every 
little  matter  of  business  entrusted  to  him.  He 
had  a  retentive  memory;  without  making  any 
memorandum,  he  always  remembered  the  most 
trifling  errands ;  always  cheerful  and  pleasant,  he 
was  ready  to  accommodate,  and  moderate  in  his 
charges  for  services. 

He  made  a  public  profession  of  religion  in  early 
life,  united  with  the  Congregational  church,  and 
continued  a  worthy  member  as  long  as  he  lived. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution  and  a  pensioner. 
He  died  the  3d.  of  October,  1834,  aged  eighty  four. 
His  widow  still  survives  in  her  ninety  ninth  year, 
and  receives  a  pension. 

DEACON  SOLOMON  BIXBY. 

Deacon  Bixby  was  an  early  settler  in  this  town. 
He  came  from  the  county  of  Worcester,  and  settled 
upon  the  intervale  lot,  where  his  sons  now  live.  He 
was  an  industrious  man  and  an  efficient  member  of 
society,  of  good  habits  and  strict  integrity.  He 
served  fourteen  years  as  one  of  the  selectmen.  He 
was  a  professor  of  religion,  and  for  many  years  a 
deacon  of  the  Congregational  church;  an  ardent 
admirer  of  the  "  doctrines  of  grace,"  and  a  faithful 
observer  of  the  ordinances  of  religion. 

He  had  the  best  and  most  productive  farm  in 
town,  and  enjoyed  the  fruits  of  his  labor  with  all 
the  comforts  and  conveniences  of  life,  and  left  a 
good  estate.  His  sons,  and  sons  in  law,  are  all 
proprietors  of  large  farms. 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  157 

The  name  of  his  Savior  and  his  pastor  were 
remembered  and  pronounced  by  him  after  he  had. 
forgotten  every  other  friend ;  even  the  members  of 
his  own  family.  Thus  while  earthly  things  faded 
from  his  remembrance,  the  name  of  Jesus  was 
precious  to  the  dying  saint.  He  died  in  1835,  aged 
74  years. 

JOHN  WARE,  ESQ. 

One  of  the  most  distinguished  men  who  has  lived 
in  this  town,  was  John  Ware.  He  was  a  cooper  by 
trade,  a  native  of  Groton,  Mass.,  and  came  to  this 
place  in  1787,  aged  twenty  years,  with  but  a  single 
suit  of  clothes,  having  been  honorably  discharged 
from  his  apprenticeship  without  any  outfit.  He 
worked  at  his  trade  in  a  small  shop  in  this  place, 
was  industrious  and  frugal,  and  exchanging  his  ware 
for  a  few  necessary  articles  of  merchandize,  com- 
menced trading  in  his  cooper's  shop.  He  continued 
to  work  and  trade  for  two  or  three  years,  and  rap- 
idly acquired  property.  He  was  then  taken  into 
partnership  by  David  Moore,  who  had  previously 
established  himself  as  a  trader  in  this  place.  The 
firm  was  prosperous,  and  in  a  few  years,  by  good 
economy  and  the  assistance  of  his  friends,  Mr.  Ware 
was  able  to  buy  out  his  partner,  with  a  stipulation 
that  Moore  should  not  trade  within  twenty  miles  of 
the  place.  Having  now  all  the  custom  of  the  vicin.. 
ity,  he  commenced  trading  on  a  larger  scale,  and 
was  eminently  successful.  The  press  of  business 
was  many  times  so  great  that  he  could  not  leave 


158  THE   HISTORY   OF 

his  store  from  morning  till  night.  His  evenings 
were  spent  till  a  late  hour  in  putting  up  small  par- 
cels for  customers,  to  be  dealt  out  with  more  facility 
the  next  day,  and  in  posting  up  his  accounts.  He 
pursued  this  course  for  more  than  twenty  years, 
with  occasionally  a  short  respite,  which  he  improved 
in  collecting  his  debts,  till  the  year  1817,  when  he 
had  acquired  a  large  estate.  Then  becoming  dissat- 
isfied with  his  taxes,  he  removed  first  to  Bloomfield 
and  afterwards  to  Athens. 

He  was  a  man  of  an  excitable  temperament,  of 
quick  perceptions  and  of  a  discriminating  mind, 
persevering  in  whatever  he  undertook,  and  indefat- 
igable is  his  exertions  to  accumulate  property.  He 
was  kind  and  accommodating  to  those  he  considered 
his  friends,  and  a  bitter  enemy  to  all  who  opposed 
his  projects.  In  the  collection  of  his  debts  he  some- 
times exercised  the  authority  of  the  law  with  rigorous 
severity;  but  extended  the  utmost  lenity  to  debtors 
whom  he  believed  to  be  honest,  and  well  disposed 
to  him  and  his  measures. 

He  took  an  active  part  in  all  the  prominent  meas- 
ures agitated  during  his  residence  in  town.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  committee  in  building  the  first 
meeting  house,  a  principal  proprietor  in  the  first 
bridge  across  the  Kennebeck,  and  foremost  in  all 
public  business  relating  to  the  prosperity  of  the  town. 
He  was  the  Representative  of  the  town  in  the 
Legislature,  when  the  county  of  Somerset  was 
established,  and  exerted  a  great  influence  in  the 
appointment  of  the  first  county  officers.     He  gave 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  159 

the  county  an  acre  of  land  for  a  jail  lot,  eight  hun- 
dred dollars  toward  the  jail,  and  the  use  of  a  house 
for  more  than  ten  years  for  a  court  house.  He  was 
active  in  promoting  what  he  thought  would  be  for 
the  prosperity  of  the  county,  which  he  had  been 
the  chief  agent  in  establishing.  But  the  result  was 
different  from  what  he  had  anticipated.  After  a 
few  years,  but  few  of  the  officers  in  the  county  were 
his  personal  or  political  friends,  and  in  many  cases 
those  most  hostile  to  him  were  promoted  to  office. 
He  never  was  married;  one  half  of  his  large  estate, 
the  value  of  which  is  estimated  at  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  he  gave  to  his  nephew,  and  the 
other  half  he  distributed  capriciously  among  his 
relatives.  He  was  afflicted  with  the  dropsy  for 
many  years,  and  troubled  with  spectoral  illusions, 
believing  himself  visited  by  supernatural  messen- 
gers. Having  repeatedly  altered  his  will,  one  week 
before  he  died  he  had  it  drawn  up  by  a  skillful 
attorney;  this  will  was  contested  by  some  of  his 
relatives,  and  having  been  twice  submitted  to  a  Jury, 
was  finally  established,  and  his  estate  accordingly 
distributed.     He  died  August  1,  1829. 

RICHARD  SAWTELLE,  ESQ. 

Mr.  Sawtelle  came  to  this  place  after  the  town 
was  incorporated.  He  married  a  sister  of  John 
Ware  and  was  in  partnership  in  trade  with  him 
for  several  years.  He  was  discreet,  intelligent, 
modest  and  unassuming  in  his  deportment,  always 
avoiding  interference  in  the  business  of  others,  and 


1  60  THE   HISTORY    OF 

strictly  honest  in  all  his  dealings.  For  some  time 
he  was  sheriff  of  the  County  and  discharged  the 
duties  of  his  office  faithfully.  He  kept  a  house  of 
entertainment  many  years,  which  at  the  time,  was 
considered  the  best  on  the  Kennebeck  river.  He 
was  a  good  farmer  and  a  good  citizen.  He  died  in 
1839,  leaving  a  widow  and  a  large  family,  who 
inherited  a  considerable  portion  of  the  estate  of 
John  Ware.  One  of  his  sons  has  been  twice  chosen 
a  member  of  Congress. 

WILLIAM  SYLVESTER,   ESQ. 

William  Sylvester  was  a  native  of  Wiscasset,  and 
came  to  this  place  when  a  young  man.  He  married 
a  daughter  of  Ephriam  Brown,  one  of  the  first 
settlers,  and  established  himself  as  a  tanner  and 
shoemaker  in  this  place.  He  succeeded  in  his  busi- 
ness, and  was  esteemed  by  all  as  a  peacable,  discreet 
man  and  worthy  citizen.  He  served  as  a  selectman 
twelve  years;  three  years  as  representative,  and 
was  a  Justice  of  the  peace  from  the  time  the  county 
was  established  till  he  died,in  1826.  He  left  a  large 
family  to  lament  his  death  and  imitate  his  example. 
Four  of  his  daughters,  favorably  situated  in  life, 
have  since  died  of  consumption. 

DEACON  WILLIAM  W.  DlNSMORE. 

Deacon  Dinsmore  was  a  native  of  Chester  N.,  H., 
and  removed  to  Anson  when  he  was  but  twenty 
years  old,  and  soon  after  united  with  the  Congrega- 
tional church  in  that  place,  was  an  active  and  beloved 
member,  and  was  early  chosen  one  of  its  deacons. 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  161 

He  removed  to  Norridgewock  in  1815,  but  retained 
his  connection  with  the  church  in  Anson  as  they 
were  destitute  of  a  pastor  and  desired  his  advice 
and  assistance.  For  eighteen  years  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  church  in  Norridgewock,  and  for  thirteen 
years  sustained  the  office  of  deacon.  He  discharged 
the  duties  of  his  office  to  the  edification  of  the 
church  and  the  honor  of  religion.  Though  a  labor- 
ing man  and  having  the  care  of  a  large  farm,  yet  he 
would  take  time  even  in  the  most  buisy  season  of 
the  year  to  attend  the  social  meetings  of  the  church. 
He  was  active  in  promoting  the  prosperity  of  the 
church  and  the  cause  of  religion,  but  gentle  in  his 
manners  and  humble  in  his  deportment.  Preemi- 
nently a  peace-maker,  "he  studied  the  things  that 
make  for  peace." 

His  conversation  and  prayers  were  welcomed  by 
the  sick  and  afflicted.  He  inculcated,  both  by  word 
and  example,  the  duty  of  sustaining  the  institutions 
of  religion.  He  was  an  important  pillar  in  the 
church,  and  such  a  helper  as  every  minister  needs. 
He  was  a  cheerful  contributor  to  the  various  objects 
of  christian  benevolence,  and  manifested  a  deep 
sympathy  for  the  enslaved  in  our  land;  always 
active,  and  to  some  good  purpose  moving  on  some 
plan  with  energy,  and  yet  without  noise.  Rare 
are  the  men  who  accomplish  so  much  as  he  did 
with  so  little  ostentation. 

He  died  suddenly,  while  laboring  in  his  field,  of 
apoplexy,  July  26,  1848,  aged  63  years. 


162  THE   HISTORY   OF 

LAWYEES. 

Timothy  Langdon,  a  brother  of  Gov.  Langdon 
of  New  Hampshire,  who  had  been  Marshall  of  the 
Court  of  Admiralty  in  Maine,  and  had  resided  in 
Wiscasset,  was  the  first  who  practiced  law  in  this 
town.  He  opened  an  office  at  the  house  of  Oliver 
Wood,  Esq.,  and  was  here  more  or  less  from  1795 
to  1797.  He  was  liberally  educated,  but  not  very 
successful  in  his  business. 

William  Jones  opened  an  office  in  this  town  in 
1802,  and  for  a  time  had  a  large  amount  of  business, 
but  he  was  inattentive  to  the  duties  of  his  profession 
and  failed  of  success.  He  was  a  native  of  Concord, 
Mass.,  a  man  of  good  talents  and  enjoyed  all  the 
advantages  of  birth  and  education.  He  had  been 
appointed  Major  in  the  force  which  was  called  out 
in  1799,  to  quell  the  Pennsylvania  insurrection,  and 
was  enraptured  with  military  parade.  After  he 
came  here  he  devoted  more  attention  to  military 
matters  than  to  his  profession,  and  was  promoted  to 
be  Brigadier  General.  He  was  Judge  of  Probate 
three  years,  and  also  clerk  of  the  Courts.  He  gave 
up  entirely  the  practice  of  the  law,  and  died  insol- 
vent in  1813,  although  he  had  inherited  a  good 
estate  from  his  father,  and  had  held  lucrative 
offices. 

Calvin  Selden  opened  an  office  in  this  town  in 
1809,  and  for  four  years  did  a  large  amount  of  busi- 
ness, and  then  gave  up  the  practice  of  the  law  to  his 
partner,  Mr.  Fairfield.  Mr.  Selden  has  three  years 
been  chosen  Representative  to  the  Legislature. 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  163 

Jotham  Fairfield  was  a  man  of  strong  mind, 
a  good  scholar  and  a  sound  lawyer.  He  died  in 
1822,  having  had  an  extensive  practice. 

Henry  W.  Fuller  came  here  in  1809,  but  soon 
returned  to  Augusta,  where  he  was  Judge  of  Pro- 
bate, and  died  suddenly  in  1841. 

Warren  Preston,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  who 
had  practiced  law  at  Clinton,  came  to  this  town  in 
1810,  and  had  considerable  business  till  he  removed 
to  Bangor  in  1832.  For  twelve  years  he  was  the 
Judge  of  Probate  of  this  county. 

Joseph  Donnison,a,  young  man  of  promise,  an  only 
son  of  General  Donnison  of  Boston,  opened  an 
office  in  this  town  in  1810,  but  not  succeeding  in 
getting  so  much  business  as  he  wished,  he  soon 
removed  to  Boston. 

Augustus  Alden,  came  to  this  town  in  1818,  and 
remained  two  or  three  years.  He  was  a  good  man, 
and  much  esteemed,  but  was  not  successful  in  secur- 
ing employment  as  a  lawyer,and  returned  to  Augusta. 
David  Kidder  practiced  law  in  this  town,  prior 
to  1821.  He  was  then  chosen  member  of  Congress, 
and  was  re-elected  in  1824.  After  his  time  of  ser- 
vice expired,  he  returned  to  Skowhegan. 

John  S.  Tenney  opened  an  office  in  this  town  in 
1820.  He  was  a  native  of  Byfield,  Mass.,  and  soon 
acquired  an  extensive  practice.  This  continued  to 
increase,  until  he  was  appointed  Judge  of  the  Su- 
preme Judicial  Court,  in  1841.  When  his  first 
term  of  office  expired,  in  1848,  he  was  re -appointed 
for  another  term  of  seven  years. 


164  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Judge  Tenney  was  a  Representative  in  the  Legis- 
lature, in  1837. 

Cullen  Sawtelle,  a  native  of  this  town,  graduated 
at  Bowdoin  College,  in  1825,  and  opened  an  office 
in  1831,  in  this  place.  He  has  been  a  Senator  in  the 
Legislature,  and  has  been  twice  chosen  a  member 
of  Congress. 

Nathaniel  Deering  settled  in  1822,  at  the  lower  part 
of  the  town,  where  he  resided  eight  or  ten  years, 
was  set  off  with  others  when  the  town  of  Milburn 
was  formed,  and  soon  after  removed  to  Portland. 
Though  diffident,  he  was  a  sound  lawyer,  a  clas- 
sical scholar,  and  author  of  the  "Indian  Tragedy 
of  Carrabasset,"  &c. 

James  Adams  was  a  student  in  the  office  of  Judge 
Tenney,  and  practised  law  in  the  county  of  Penob- 
scot, where  he  was  clerk  of  the  Courts  for  one  year. 
He  came  to  this  place  in  1839,  and  entered  into 
partnership  with  Mr.  Tenney.  After  Mr.  Tenney' s 
appointment  as  Judge,  Mr.  Adams  took  the  business 
of  the  office,  and  practiced  with  success,  until  his 
death,  in  1848. 

John  H.  Webster,  came  to  this  town  in  1834, 
from  Bangor,  to  take  the  place  of  Judge  Preston. 
He  remained  here  a  short  time,  and  then  removed 
to  New  Portland,  and  thence  to  North  Anson.  Re- 
moved to  this  place  again,  July  1849. 

John  S.  Abbott,  came  to  this  town  in  1841,  and 
has  now  a  larger  amount  of  business  than  any  other 
lawyer  in  the  county.  He  is  also  engaged  in  farming, 
and  lumbering  operations. 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  165 

W.  D.  Gould,  commenced  practice  in  the  South 
Village  in  1848. 

PHYSICIANS. 

William  Ward,  Zebulon  Gilman,  Spencer  Pratt, 
John  Harlow,  Joseph  Batchelder  and  John  Fairfield 
were  practising  physicians  in  this  town — in  the 
order  as  to  time  in  which  they  are  named,  they  are 
all  now  dead. 

Dr.  Gilman  came  from  Pembroke,  N.  H.  and 
was  a  prudent,  careful  practitioner,  circumspect  in 
his  life,  and  pleasant  in  his  disposition. 

Dr.  Harlow,  a  regularly  educated  physician,  was 
a  native  of  Middleborough,  Mass.  So  long  as  he 
attended  to  the  duties  of  his  profession,  he  was  es- 
teemed by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  several  times 
chosen  town  clerk  and  selectman.  After  a  few  years 
he  gave  up  his  practice  and  commenced  trading  in 
partnership  with  others,  but  did  not  succeed  in  trade 

Dr.  Batchelder  came  here  in  1813,  he  was  a  good 
physician  and  a  successful  practioner  till  he  died  in 
1819. 

Dr.  Fairfield  was  an  eccentric  man,  he  entered 
into  partnership  with  Dr.  Townsend,  and  practised 
in  company  with  him  a  few  years.  He  removed  to 
Exeter  in  1823,  and  died  in  1847. 

Dr.  Amos  Townsend  was  a  physician  in  Fair- 
field. After  the  County  of  Somerset  was  establish- 
ed, he  was  appointed  Register  of  Deeds,  and  remov- 
ed to  this  place.  He  attended  to  the  duties  of  his 
office,  practised  as  a  physician,  opened  a  tavern, 
15 


166  THE   HISTORY    OF 

and  has  traded  part  of  the  time.  He  was  the  prin- 
cipal agent  and  donor  in  establishing  the  Norridge- 
wock  Female  Academy.  He  has  also  generously- 
given  to  the  town  a  lot  for  a  burial-ground.  He  is 
still  in  practice,  although  the  infirmities  of  age 
impair  his  usefulness.  His  son,  Charles  E.  Towns- 
end,  M.  D.  is  also  a  practising  physician  in  town. 

Dr.  James  Bates,  who  had  been  a  surgeon  in  the 
army  in  1812,  settled  in  this  town  in  1819  as  a 
physician  and  a  surgeon — practised  extensively 
through  the  county,  and  acquired  the  reputation  of 
a  skilful  surgeon  through  the  State.  He  was  elected 
member  of  Congress  in  1832 ;  and  in  1845,  was 
was  appointed  the  Superintendent  of  the  Insane 
Hospital  at  Augusta,  where  he  now  resides.  He 
was  an  active  member  of  society,  and  gave  his 
influence  to  promote  the  cause  of  temperance  and 
morality.  His  experiments  in  scientific  farming 
have  tended  to  develope  the  resources  of  the  town. 

Dr.  John  S.  Isynde  settled  in  this  town  as  a 
physician  in  1827,  and  soon  acquired  a  good  repu- 
tation as  a  physician.  He  is  distinguished  for  his 
literary  attainments — a  fine  writer  and  a  scientific 
lecturer.  He  still  continues  in  the  practice  of  med- 
icine. 

Several  others  have  attempted  to  establish  them- 
selves in  town,  but  have  not  found  sufficient  encour- 
agement. 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  167 


TRADERS. 

The  first  trader  in' this  place  was  Scott  Keith,  who 
opened  a  small  store  in  his  log  cabin  at  Bombazee? 
about  1780,  but  did  not  succeed.  The  next  was 
David  Moore,  then  John  Ware,  at  first  separately, 
afterwards  in  partnership.  John  Eveleth  opened  a 
store  in  this  town,  but  soon  removed  to  Augusta. 
Ithamew  Spaulding,  Asher  Spaulding  and  John 
Harlow,  traded  in  company  two  or  three  years,  but 
were  not  successful.  John  Ware,  who  had  bought 
out  his  partner,  David  Moore,  traded  alone,  and  then 
from  1802  to  1812,  in  company  with  Richard  Saw- 
telle.  They  sold  out  to  Caleb  Jewett,  who  continued 
to  trade  till  he  died,  in  1835.  Daniel  Steward  com- 
menced trade  in  this  town  in  1810,  and  about  a  year 
afterwards  removed  to  Anson.  About  the  same 
time  Dr.  Townsend  commenced  trade,  first  alone, 
and  then  in  company  with  Drummond  Farns worth 
in  the  South  Village,  he  sold  out  and  removed  to  the 
North  Village  in  1818,  entered  into  partnership  with 
Samuel  Sylvester,  and  then  traded  alone.  After  ten 
or  twelve  years  he  gave  up  trade  and  removed  to 
the  South  side  of  the  river. 

John  L.  Prescott  commenced  trade  in  1813,  in  the 
house  now  owned  by  Calvin  Selden  j  he  afterwards 
went  into  partnership  with  John  Lander,  and  they 
continued  to  trade  ten  or  twelve  years. 

Capt.  Amos  Fletcher  was  a  grandson  of  William 
Fletcher,  the  first  settler  in  town ;  he  married  a 
niece  of  John  Ware,  Esq.,  and  settled  first  at  Car- 
ratunk.    In  1813,  he  removed  to  this  town  and  oc- 


168  THE   HISTORY    OF 

cupied  the  Sturgiss  farm,  but  soon  after  entered  into 
partnership  in  trade  with  Messrs.  Ware  and  Selden. 
A  large  amount  of  business  was  transacted  by  the 
company.  In  1817,  Mr.  Ware  withdrew,  and  the 
business  was  continued  by  Mossrs.  Selden  &  Fletch- 
er for  several  years,  when  Mr.  Selden  relinquished 
his  interest  to  Mr.  Fletcher,  who  continued  to  trade 
till  near  the  close  of  his  life.  Mr.  Fletcher  was  an 
active  enterprising  man ;  he  was  respected  as  a 
useful  citizen,  a  correct  and  honest  trader,  and  loved 
for  his  generosity  and  benevolence.  He  acquired  a 
good  estate,  and  received  a  liberal  share  in  the  dis- 
tribution of  the  estate  of  John  Ware.  He  died  in 
1830,  aged  40  years. 

Samuel  Sylvester  commenced  trade  in  1816,  in 
company  with  Caleb  Jewett,  then  with  Amos 
Townsend,  and  afterwards  traded  alone.  He  re- 
moved to  Bangor  in  1833.  Judge  Farnsworth  was 
in  trade  from  1816  to  1836,  and  then  sold  out  to 
Henry  Butler,  who  still  continues  in  trade  in  the 
same  store  in  the  South  Village. 

In  1820,  Mark  S.  Blunt  commenced  trade,  and 
afterwards  entered  into  partnership  with  Solomon 
W.  Bates,  and  then  with  Thomas  J.  Copeland.  Mr. 
Copeland  bought  out  Mr.  Blunt ;  removed  to  the 
South  side  of  the  river  and  then  went  to  Calais  in 
1843. 

John  W.  Sawtelle  commenced  trading  alone — 
then  entered  into  partnership  with  Cyrus  Fletcher. 
They  continued  in  trade  a  year  or  two,  and  then 
Mr.   Sawtelle  sold  out  to  Mr.   Fletcher,  who  had 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  169 

formerly  traded  alone,  having  succeeded  his  brother 
Amos  Fletcher  in  business.  Mr.  Fletcher  afterwards 
entered  into  partnership  with  Solomon  W.  Bates, 
and  in  1836,  removed  to  Skowhegan.  The  business 
was  continued  by  Mr.  Bates  and  his  brother,  Dr. 
James  Bates,  and  then  in  partnership  with  Edward 
C.  Selden  till  1843.  Mr.  Bates  then  gave  up  the 
business  to  E.  C.  Selden  and  his  father  Calvin  Sel- 
den, who  still  continue  to  trade. 

In  1835,  Bangs  &  Barrett  commenced  trade.  The 
next  year  the  firm  was  changed  to  Jewett  and  Bar- 
rett, and  afterwards  to  Jewett  &  Fairfield — they 
relinquished  business  some  time  since. 

George  Sawtelle,  about  this  time,  opened  a  store 
and  continued  in  trade  for  six  years. 

William  H.  Bodfish  commenced  trading  in  the 
South  Village  in  1824,  and  continued  till  1832, 
when  he  sold  out  to  John  H.  Sawyer,  who  still  is  in 
business. 

Jones  &  Spaulding  have  also  traded  in  the  South 
Village  for  four  years  past. 

Edward  J.  Peet  opened  a  bookstore  in  the  North 
Village  of  Norridgewock  in  the  year  1836,  and  con- 
tinued in  trade  eight  years.  In  1844,  he  sold  out 
his  stock  to  Blunt  &  Turner,  who  commenced  trade 
the  same  year,  and  are  still  doing  a  good  business. 

John  Childs  commenced  trade  in  the  South  Vil- 
lage in  the  spring  of  1849. 

POST-MASTERS. 

John  Ware,  Richard  Sawtelle,  Wm.  Spaulding, 
15* 


170  THE  HISTORY   OF 

Mark  S.  Blunt,  George  Sylvester,  Moses  H.  Pike, 
Harrison  Barrett,  Joshua  Gould,  Mark  S.  Blunt, 
James  French,  Mark  S.  Blunt. 

South  Norridgewock. — Drummond  Farnsworth, 
Henry  Butler,  Marshall  Spaulding. 

LIST  OF  MARRIAGES  IN  NORRIDGEWOCK. 

In  1786. 

Amos  Shepardson  and  Rebecca  Winslow ;  Charles  Foy  and 
Roanna  Keith. 

1787. 

Henry  Bickford  and  Jane  Witham ;  John  Leighton  and 
Lydia  McGraugh ;  Seth  Spaulding  and  Judith  Richards ;  Ben- 
jamin Kitteridge  and  Ruth  Richards  ;  Simon  Pierce  and  Hep- 
zibah  Wood ;  John  Brown  and  Minerva  Keith ;  Moses  Martin 
and  Anna  Parker. 

1788. 

William  Sylvester  and  Polly  Brown. 

1790. 

Bryce  McLellan  of  Canaan  and  Betty  Sampson  of  Norridge- 
wock ;  Jonathan  Russell  of  Barnardston  and  Polly  Nutting  of 
Norridgewock ;  James  Fairbrother  and  Rebeccah  Moore ; 
Abraham  Moor  and  Betsey  Spaulding ;  James  Bickford  and 
Zeruiah  Piper. 

1791. 

Samuel  Richards  and  Dorcas  Brown ;  Charles  McKenney 
and  Mahala  Keith  ;  James  Smith,  and  Nancy  Davenport ;  Luke 
Withee'and  Margaret  Walton ;  Levi  Sampson,  and  Polly  Var- 
num. 

1792. 

Amos  Adams,  and  Hannah  Smith  ;  John  Davidson,  and  Je- 
rusha  Cook ;  Thomas  Laughton,  and  Polly  Adams ;  John  Long- 
ley,  and  Elizabeth  Heald  ;  Wm.  Thompson,  and  Sally  Warren. 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  171 

1793. 

Stephen  Weston,  and  Martha  Gray  ;  William  Farnham,  and 
Hannah  Varnum ;  Henry  Bickford  and  Polly  Witham. 

1794. 

Joseph  Vickere,  and  Mary  Spaulding ;  Goff  Moore,  and  Bet- 
sey McKinney ;  William  Ward,  and  Martha  Bullen  ;  Benjamin 
Richards,  and  Alice  Adams ;  David  Howell,  and  Sally  Spauld- 
ing ;  Ebenezer  Crosby,  and  Lydia  Longley ;  Sampson  Parker, 
and  Sally  Parsons  ;  Luther  Pierce,  and  Susannah  Gray. 

1795. 

Charles  Witherell,  and  Susannah  Emerson ;  Oliver  Wood, 
and  Lucy  Tarbell ;  David  Russell,  and  Betsey  Smith  ;  Jeremi- 
ah Russell,  and  Polly  Smith. 

1796. 

Asa  Longley,  and  Betsey  Parker ;  William  Adams,  and  Elea- 
nor Crosby ;  Sampson  Parker,  and  Rachel  Coburn ;  William 
Withee,  and  Sarah  Longley ;  Nathaniel  Withee,  and  Lydia 
Fairbrother ;  Charles  Whitcomb,  and  Sylera  Davenport. 

1797. 

James  Waugh,  jr.  and  Sarah  Manchester ;  Charles  Pierce, 
and  Abigail  Ayer. 

1798. 

Abijah  Nutting,  and  Emma  Adams ;  Ephraim  Heald,  and  Pol- 
ly Steward. 

1799. 

Joseph  Longley,  and  Polly  Whitcomb. 

1800. 

Levi  Willard,  and  Anne  Whitcomb  ;  John  Eveleth  and  Sally 
Hale ;  Josiah  Crosby,  and  Lucy  Shaw ;  Samuel  Cook,  and 
Hepzebah  Cook ;  Luke  Robbins,  and  Sally  Brown  ;  John  Har- 
low and  Nancy  Greene. 

1801. 

John  Longley  and  Judith  Searle  ;  Caleb  Gilman  and  Fanny 


172  THE   HISTORY   OF 

Farnsworth ;  John  Moore,  and  Betsey  Hooper ;  John  Whit- 
man, and  Polly  Pratt ;  Josiah  Heald  jr.  and  Mercy  Baker ;  John 
Davenport  jr.  and  Asenath  Emery ;  Samuel  Beckey  and  Pa- 
tience Adams. 

1802. 

Sylvanus  Sawyer,  and  Sally  Crosby;  Sylvanus  Whitney, 
and  Polly  Lancaster ;  Ezekiel  Gilman,  and  Fanny  Marshall ; 
Daniel  Woodman,  and  Lydia  Gilman ;  James  Dinsmore,  and 
Deborah  Patten  ;  Charles  Fairbrother,  and  Sukey  Turner. 

1803. 

Edmund  Warren,  and  Polly  Goodwin ;  John  Clark  and  Deb- 
orah Patten ;  Levi  Bobbins,  and  Jane  Gilman ;  William  Dins- 
more,  and  Abigail  Farnham. 

1804. 

Edmund  Parker,  and  Margaret  Powers ;  Jonathan  Parlin,  and 
Anne  Nutting ;  Benjamin  Cleaveland,  and  Lydia  Young ;  Ben- 
jamin Adams,  and  Fanny  Gilman ;  Eben  Lancaster  and  Betsey 
Russell ;  Samuel  Searle,  and  Betsey  Witherell ;  Asaph  Thomp- 
son, and  Polly  Wood ;  Josiah  Warren,  and  Eliza  Searle. 

1805. 

John  Patten,  and  Betsey  Hilton ;  Balph  Farnham,  and  Lucy 
Parlin^  John  Whiting  and  Margaret  Fairbrother. 

1806. 

Isaac  Bobbins,  and  Nancy  Ward ;  Union  Spaulding,  and  Sal- 
ly Harvell ;  Eleazer  Eddy,  and  Deborah  Moore ;  Israel  Dan- 
forth,  and  Sally  Wait ;  Joseph  Titcomb  and  Dorcas  Dinsmore  ; 
Edmund  Parker,  and  Margaret  Farnsworth :  Obediah  Wither- 
ell, jr.  and  Phebe  Spaulding;  Jonathan  Young,  and  Eliza 
Leathers ;  John  G.  Neil,  and  Eliza  Leavitt ;  Eben  Heald,  jr. 
and  Lucy  Warren. 

1807. 

Lorell  Fairbrother,  and  Lydia  Bragg ;  Jonas  Farnsworth,  and 
Maria  Gould ;  Abishai  Handy,  and  Zipporah  Laughton ;  Abel 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  173 

Adams,  and  Sally  Kitteridge ;  Abijah  Davis,  and  Pricilla  Hard- 
ing ;  Eben  Heald,  and  Anna  Dinsmore ;  Abel  Wood,  and  Ma- 
hala  Bickford ;  Job  Parsons,  and  Sally  Spaulding. 

1808. 

Francis  B.  Lane,  and  Boxinda  Parlin  ;  William  Waugh,  and 
Patty  Sampson ;  John  Kidder,  and  Nabby  Huston ;  Abiel  Lan- 
caster, and  Maryana  Burrell ;  Wm.  W.  Dinsmore,  and  Lucy 
Gould ;  Thomas  Wood,  and  Jane  Barron  ;  Ephraim  Ward,  and 
Olive  Turner ;  Daniel  Kogers  and  Susan  Gilman. 

1809. 

Abel  E.  Hackett,  and  Mary  Spaulding ;  Charles  Pease,  and 
Hannah  Washburn ;  Benjamin  Nutting  and  Susannah  Foss ; 
John  Ulrick,  and  Betsey  Leeman ;  David  Gilman,  and  Polly 
Cook  ;  Moses  French  and  Sarah  Patten. 

1810. 

Henry  Weeks  of  Canaan,  and  Anne  Howard ;  Thomas  Heald 
jr.  and  Polly  Rogers ;  John  Townsend,  and  Deborah  Ingalls  ; 
Daniel  Steward,  jr.  and  Olive  Patten  ;  Ezekiel  Heald,  and  Su- 
sannah Kidder  ;  Samuel  Philbrick  and  Betsey  White;  Stephen 
Chafin,  and  Sybil  Spaulding ;  Joseph  Adams  and  Lydia  Kitte- 
ridge ;  John  Ellis,  and  Lois  Leathers  ;  Reuben  Dinsmore,  and 
Nancy  Bisbe. 

1811. 

Washington  Mclntire,  and  Betsey  Spaulding  ;  John  Church, 
and  Esther  Richards  ;  Mark  S.  Blunt,  and  Polly  Felker];  John 
Davenport,  and  Hannah  Howard  ;  Samuel  Mace,  and  Mahala 
Moore  ;  Eli  Steward,  and  Betsey  Blagdon ;  Jesse  Harding,  and 
Eunice  Morton  ;  John  Laughton  jr.  and  Amity  Greenleaf ;  Au- 
gustus Taylor,  and  Mary  Emerson. 

1812. 

William  B.  Shaw,  and  Cyntha  Witherill ;  Thomas  Cook,  and 
Lucy  Pease ;  Calvin  Heald,  and  Maria  Gould ;  Isaac  Kidder ,Jr., 
and  Sally  Tarbell ;  Asa  Longley,  and  Rhoda  Taylor ;  Witham 


174  THE   HISTORY   OF 

Brooks,  and  Anna  Cook;   Edmund  Parker,  Jr.,  and  Persis 
Robbins. 

1813. 

Joseph  Gilman,  and  Lucy  Pishon  ;  William  Soule,  and  Betsy 
Fairbrother ;  Jessy  Stone,  and  Lucy  Emery  ;  Melzar  Lindsey, 
and  Belind  Cannon ;  Oliver  Sewall,  and  Betsey  Sylvester;  Lovel 
Fairbrother,  and  Jane  White ;  Cyrus  Kidder,  and  Mary  Sylves- 
ter ;  John  Smith,  and  Lucinda  Whittier. 

1814. 

Silas  Turner,  and  Esther  Walker ;  Luke  Bobbins,  and  Mary 
Hebbard;  Jotham  Chase,  and  Mary  Gould;  Luther  Heald, 
and  Pheba  Kidder;  Warren  Preston,  and  Mary  Francis; 
Calvin  Selden,and  Harriet  Sawtelle  ;  Rev.  J.  Peat,  and  Sarah  A. 
Herrick ;  James  Walker,  and  Lucy  Kidder ;  Wm.  Farnsworth, 
and  Susan  Tarbell ;  Ezekiel  Emerson,  and  Amanda  Leeman  ; 
Wm.  Weston,  and  Mary  Pinkham  ;  David  Gillman,  and  Lucy 
Bixby. 

1815. 

Peter  Gilman,  and  Susan  L.  Coffin ;  Laban  Lincoln,  and 
Sybel  Squire ;  James  McGuire,  and  Leah  Warren ;  Patrick 
McGuire,  and  Phebe  Washborn ;  Tilley  Emery,  and  Esther 
Spaulding ;  Cyrus  Heald,  and  Pamela  Oakes ;  Joseph  Baker, 
and  Betsey  Taylor ;  Joseph  Patten,  and  Joanna  Harlow ;  Mark 
S.  Blunt,  and  Martha  Drew. 

1816. 

Stephen  Hibbarb,  and  Jane  Rollins;  Henry  Sewall  and 
Mary  Witherill;  Daniel  Marston,  and  Lydia  Pratt;  John 
Robbins,  and  Susan  Skoofield ;  Isaac  Hagget,  and  Mary  Gilman ; 
Seba  Smith,  and  Sally  Lancaster  ;  Otis  Spaulding,  and  Betsy 
Emery ;  Eliakim  Tobey,  and  Dorcas  Clark ;  Daniel  Spaulding, 
and  Susan  Palmer ;  Ephraim  Washburn,  and  Climena  Luce ; 
Samuel  Cook,  and  Joanna  Patten ;  Elisha  Jewett,  and  Hannah 
Cowan ;  Hosea  Washburn,  and  Hannah  Maxim ;  D.  Farns- 


NORRLDGEWOCK.  175 

1817. 

Samuel  G.  Tuck,  and  Diantha  Heald ;  Eben  Steward,  and 
Betsey  Webb  ;  Robey  Marston,  and  Alice  Pierce ;  John  Palm- 
er, and  Betsey  Nichols ;  Samuel  Sylvester,  and  Charlotte  Heald ; 
Richard  Gilman,  and  E.  Harding. 

1818. 

Francis  Allen,  and  Polly  Taylor ;  Steven  Hibberd,  and 
Mary  Stephens ;  Zebulon  Gilman,  Jr.,  and  Eliza  Chandler ; 
Nicholas  Kimball,  and  Mary  Beedle;  Alden  Fuller,  and 
Melinda  Gould;  Ezekiel  Heald,  and  Sally  Tozer;  Solomon 
Bates,  2d.,  and  Asenath  Spaulding ;  Wm.  Lawry,  and  Submit 
Richards;  Geo.  B.  Weston,  and  Abigail  Hight ;  Artemas  Heald, 
and  Jane  Cook  ;  Phineas  Whitney,  and  Mary  Emerson ;  Thurs- 
ton Heald,  and  Lydia  Gould ;  Jonathan  Hibberd,  and  Elizabeth 
Greenleaf ;  John  French,  and  Charlotte  Hibberd ;  Daniel  Ladd, 
and  Abigail  French ;  Stephen  Weston,  Jr.,  and  Rebeccah  Webb ; 
Gowen  Riggs,  and  Pamela  Pratt. 

1819. 

John  Brown,  and  Sally  Smith;  John  R.  Philbrick,  and 
Hannah  White  ;  Joseph  Russell,  and  Mary  Kimball ;  Oliver  C. 
Blunt,  and  Sarah  Fletcher ;  Reuben  Whitney,  and  Lucy  Saw- 
yer; Lucas  Brown,  and  Polly  Bosworth;  Samuel  Pierce,  and 
Baston;  Rufus  Bixby,  and  Betsey  Weston;  Amasa  Bixby,  and 
Fanny  Weston. 

1820. 

Samuel  K.  White,  and  Cynthia  Barrett ;  John  Loring,  and 
Hannah  Faulkner ;  Ephraim  Fairbrother,  and  Polly  Grant; 
Wm.  H.  Rogers,  and  Lydia  Metcalf;  Freeborn  Ellis  and  Eu- 
nice Withee ;  Isaac  Cook,  and  Charlotte  Ferrand ;  Francis 
Baicher,  and  Elizabeth  Tripp;  Charles  Staples,  and  Mary 
Fickett;  Ziba  Russell,  and  Hannah  Moore;  Wm.  Spencer, and 
Betsey  Richards;  D.  H.  Tuck,  and  Sally  Witherell ;  Eliphalet 
Lane,  and  Lydia  Trask;  John  Pierce,  and  Elizabeth  B. 
Harding;  Crosby  Mitchell,  and  Mary  Fling;  Arthmas  Heald, 


176 


THE   HISTORY   OF 


and  Diadama  Bixby;  Joseph  Baston,  and  Lucinda  Heald;  Isaac 
R.  Pierce,  and  Loisa  Chute ;  Rufus  J.  Woodward,  and  Leah 
Witherell. 

1821. 

Joseph  Pratt,  Jr.,  and  Betsey  Wood ;  Asa  Dutton,  and  Lucy 
Spaulding ;  Luke  Withee,  and  Sophia  Pollard ;  Sherborn  N. 
Marston,  and  Lydia  Baston ;  Dr.  Zebulon  Gilman,  and  Susanna 
Mitchell ;  Nahum  Brown,  and  Agnes  Gilman  ;  Charles  Gifford, 
and  Mary  Reed ;  Samuel  Smith,  and  Dolly  Whorff ;  James 
Pierce,  and  Mercy  Heald;  Samuel  Taylor,  Jr.,  and  Lydia 
Boardman ;  James  Allen,  and  Naomi  Sylvester. 

.    1822. 

Ephraim  Currier,  and  Betsey  Pomroy ;  Luther  Laughton,  and 
Patty  Nutting ;  Wm.  McKechnie,  and  Catharine  Bradbury ; 
Allen  Barston,  and  Betsey  Marston  ;  Ephraim  Washburn,  and 
Louisa  Harvell ;  Emmons  Whitcomb,  and  Lydia  Smith ;  Josiah 
M.  Haines,  and  Bathsheba  Waugh ;  Foster  T.  Palmer,  and 
Orpha  Woodbury ;  Arthur  Spaulding,  and  Sarah  T.  Thompson ; 
Hanson  Hight,  and  Caroline  Ferrand. 

1823. 

Amos  A.  Richards,  and  Betsey  Witherell ;  Stephen  Morton, 
and  Betsey  Parlin ;  John  H.  Withee,  and  Mary  Washburn ; 
Ichabod  Russell,  and  Philena  Sawyer;  John  S.  Longley,  and 
,Jane  Crosby;  Abel  Davis,  and  Betsey  McGlathery;  Caleb 
Jewett,  and  Caroline  R.  Fairfield;  Samuel  Woodman,  and 
Charlotte  Heald;  Nathaniel  M.  Stevens,  and  Betsey  T.  Hinds; 
Zachariah  Withee,  and  Polley  Longley ;  Seth  Laughton,  and 
Lucy  H.Wood;  J.  C.  Bigelow,  and  Eliza  B.  Pishon;  Hollis 
Whitcomb,  and  Mary  Frizzell ;  John  Parker,  and  Lucy  Longley ; 
William  Nichols,  and  Fanny  Nutting;  B.  E.  Cayford,  and  So- 
phia White. 

1824. 

Asher  Adams,  and  Eliza  Pollard ;  N.  W.  Morse,  and  Mary 


NORRTDGEWOCK. 


177 


Montague ;  Levi  Flint,  and  Abigail  Brown  ;  Asa   Clark,  and 
Sophia  Bates ;  David  Withee,  and  Clemena  Kelley. 

1825 

Benjamin  Howe,  and  Polly  Wells ;  Allen  Baston,  and  Mary 
Marston;  Daniel  Bowden,  and  Frances  C.  Smart;  Samuel 
Searle,  and  Catharine  A.  Wilson ;  George  V.  Edes,  and  Susan 
Witherell ;  Jonathan  Davis,  and  Eliza  Dunlap ;  Eben  H.  Neil, 
and  Mary  Fletcher;  Rufus  Merrill,  and  Martha  Woodman. 

1826. 

James  Trench,  and  Mary  W.  Nutter;  John  Adams,  and  Mary 
J.  Townsend ;  Peter  Merrill,  and  Lavina  Bowden ;  Samuel 
Emery,  and  Hannah  Baston ;  Jesse  Richards,  and  Susan  Mc- 
Nelley  ;  Jesse  Withee,  and  Lois  Blackwell ;  Alvan  Nutting,  and 
Lydia  Longley ;  Israel  Wells,  and  Cynthia  Baston  ;  Otis  Mitch- 
ell, and  Mahi table  Preble  ;  Harlow  Getchell,  and  Anna  Whit- 
comb. 

1827. 

Winthrop  Norton,  and  Betsey  Gould  ;  Alfred  Leathers,  and 
Thankful  Frizzle ;  Horace  Dagget,  and  Jane  Coburn ;  Justus 
Kirby,  and  Mary  Chapen;  Thomas  Spaulding,  and  Almira 
Spaulding ;  Calvin  Boyd,  and  Elizabeth  Parlin ;  James  Bigelow, 
and  Loisa  Abba ;  Joseph  Leeman,  and  Eliza  Gilman  ;  Obadiah 
Baston,  and  Betsey  Decker ;  Jason  Hinds,  and  Celia  Tobey ; 
Peter  Gilman  Jr.,  and  Lydia  Allen  ;  Solomon  Bixby,  and 
Achsah  Wyman  ;  Jesse  Tarbell,  and  Betsey  S.  Sturgess ;  Be- 
thuel  Burgess,  and  Mary  Sturdefant ;  Samuel  G.x  Tuck,  and 
Almira  Dudley ;  Samuel  Whitman,  and  Hannah  Jones. 

1828. 

Calvin  Laughton,  and  Serena  Haynes ;  Samuel  B.  Witherell, 

and  Martha  G.  Stevens;  Henry  Wilder,  and   Sabrina  Baston  ; 

William  Palmer,  and  Lydia  Mack;    Gorham   Greeley,   and 

Harriet  B.  Holoway ;  Israel  Brown,  and  Almira  Trask  ;  Niran 

16 


178  THE   HISTORY   OF 

Bates,  and  Charlotte  L.  Dennett ;  Joseph  Baker,  and   Charity 
Blackwell;  Elihu  W.  Withee,  and  Naomi  Adams. 

1829. 

Charles  Folsom,  and  Elizabeth  Judkins ;  John  W.  Sawtelle, 
and  Caroline  Sylvester ;  James  M.  Haynes,  and  Sarah  Jewett ; 
Aaron  C.  Bigelow,  and  Lucinda  Bobbins ;  Jabez  Trask,  and 
Hannah  Cook ;  Nathan  Laughton,  and  Sarah  Adams ;  Harvey 
Vickere,  and  Elizabeth  H.  S.  Longley ;  Cyrus  Fletcher,  and 
Martha  Sawtelle ;  James  Phillips,  and  Rachel  Davis ;  Edward 
Bowe,  and  Adaline  Butterick ;  Daviel  Adams,  and  Naomi 
Steward. 

1830. 

Simeon  Bobbins,  and  Boxana  Allen  ;  David  Harding,  and 
Susan  "Woodman ;  Thomas  C.  Jones,  and  Judith  Spaulding ; 
Joshua  Johnson,  and  Frances  E.  Moore  ;  James  Stinson,  and 
Martha  Bussell ;  Solomon  W.  Bates,  and  Mary  Ann  S.  Niel ; 
Amos  Adams,  and  Sarah  Hackett ;  Cullen  Sawtelle,  and  Eliza^ 
beth  Lyman ;  Thomas  J.  Copeland,  and  Julia  E.  Townsend ; 
Edward  Jones,  and  Boxinda  Steward  ;  Elias  Works,  and  Mar- 
garet Sheaf;  Levi  Mclntire,  and  Judeth  Woodman ;  Joseph 
Pomeroy,  and  Eliza  Patten. 

1831. 

Seth  Parlin,  and  Nancy  P.  Tufts ;  Francis  B.  Longley,  and 
Deborah  Blackwell ;  Nathan  Wood,  and  Anny  Waugh ;  Bely 
W.  Betts,  and  Sarah  Bussell ;  William  B.  Knight,  and  Irene 
Nutter ;  Edward  G.  Sturgess,  and  Eliza  Kelsey ;  John  Nutting, 
and  Elizabeth  B.  Gray ;  Alvan  Mclntire,  and  Susan  B.  Bogers ; 
Beuben  Foster,  and  Bebecca  Walton ;  Eusebius  Heald,  and 
Philena  Dinsmore;  Jacob  Littlefield,  and  Joanna  Pomeroy; 
James  Trench,  and  Buth  Shaw. 

1832. 

Amos  Shed,  and  Sybil  Longley;  John  W.  Mitchell,  and 
Fanny  Morton ;  George  Prescott,  and  Charlotte  Searle ;  Ira 
Loring,  and  Betsey  Eaton ;  Lovel  F.  Withee,  and  Lydia  G. 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  179 

Frederick;  John  C.  Page,  and  Fanny  A.  Gould;  John  Brown, 
and  Sarah  Livingston ;  Sumner  Bixby,  and  Lucy  Heald ;  Henry 
Preble,  and  Olive  Bowden. 

1833. 

William  Kidder,  and  Philena  Gilman ;  Hon.  D.  Farns- 
worth,  and  Meroe  Sylvester ;  Jonathan  Bigelow,  and  Milissa 
Abbee ;  John  E.  Knight,  and  Sarah  Morse ;  Ira  Town, 
and  Elizabeth  B.  Kilgore ;  Wm.  Tobey  2d.,  and  Ruth  Norton; 
J.  C.  Bigelow,  and  Thankful  Bowden ;  Jones  Parlin,  and  Nan- 
cy P.  Bodfish ;  Augustus  J.  Bo  we,  and  Sybil  W.  Fletcher ; 
Dominicus  Mitchell,  and  Christiana  Dunlap  ;  Amory  Prescott, 
and  Hannah  W.  Searle  ;  George  Warren,  and  Rebecca  Pres- 
cott ;  Eben.  E.  Russell,  and  Abagail  Waugh ;  Charles  Loring, 
and  Elizabeth  Emerson. 

1834. 

James  Withee,  and  Hannah  H.  Rogers ;  Ira  Searle,  and 
Amanda  M.  Osborn ;  Aaron  Bickford,  and  Rosilla  Preble ; 
Miles  Leathers,  and  Betsey  W.  Rogers :  Charles  S.  Weaver, 
and  Mary  Trafton  ;  Moses  Littlefield,  and  Caroline  R.  Parker  ; 
James  Mellein,  and  Eunice  Withee ;  Zebulon  Butler,  and  So- 
phronia  Philbrook ;  James  P.  Longley,  and  Mary  Ann  Dudley ; 
Matthias  Whaland,  and  Charlotte  Pomeroy ;  Benjamin  Baker, 
and  Mary  Adams. 

1835. 

Amasa  Cobb,  and  Betsey  S.  Tarbelle  ;  Johnson  Bowen,  and 
Jerusha  Woodward ;  Stephen  Bowden,  and  Matilda  Bickford ; 
Solomon  Bates,  and  Anstes  Allen ;  Augustine  W.  Cromwell, 
and  Charlotte  Yarney;  James  P.  Withee,  and  Sophrona  Pease; 
Barney  Harny,  and  Ruby  G.  Colburn ;  Ephraim  Withee,  and 
Deborah  Grant ;  Artemas  H.  Wood,  and  Sarah  C.  Wosson ; 
John  S.  Abbott,  and  Elizabeth  T.  Allen ;  Albert  P.  Warren, 
and  Mary  W.  Shaw ;  Melzar  Lindsay,  and  Elia  G.  Marston. 

1836. 

Samuel  B.  Witherell  2d.,  and  Alathea  Keen  ;  Samuel  Jewett, 


THE    HI6T0RY    OF 


and  Lydia  E.  Drew ;  Abraham  T.  Tilton,  and  Lucy  Parker;  Ed- 
mund Smith,  and  Emma  Nutting  ;  Solomon  Low,  and  Olive  R. 
Hill ;  Jesse  Maxim,  and  Louisa  Pratt ;  Warren  Preble,  and 
Philina  Bowden ;  William  Trafton,  and  Emaline  Baston  ;  Daniel 
M.  Baker,  and  Mary  J.  Gillman  ;  Wm.  S.  Savage,  and  Nancy 
B.  Ferrin ;  Jonas  Davis,  and  Eliza  Robinson  ;  Thomas  Cook, 
and  Abigail  Butterfield;  Albert  G.  Manley,  and  Sarah  H. 
Hill ;  Levi  Powers,  and  Mehitable  H.  Boardman  ;  Moses  T. 
Emery,  and  Clarissa  Staples. 

1837. 

Silas  W.  Thompson,  and  Maria  Hussey ;  Joseph  Taylor,  and 
Ruth  J.  Morton ;  James  H.  Stevens,  and  Sophrona  Barker ; 
Henry  Butler,  and  Mary  A.  Farnsworth ;  Orrin  Gibbs,  and 
Clarissa  Bessey ;  George  A.  Fairfield,  and  Eliza  Warren ;  Hora- 
tio N.  Page,  and  Hannah  Page ;  Charles  Lander,  and  Sarah 
Arnold ;  Joshua  R.  Taylor,  and  Lydia  Eaton ;  Stephen  Savage, 
and  Sabrina  Wood. 

1838. 

Sumner  Chapin,  and  Lucinda  Adams;  Samuel  Tobey,  and 
Nancy  Hollbrook  ;  Charles  D.  Farren,  and  Mary  A.  Savage; 
Wm.  Trentham,  and  Catharine  Withee ;  Charles  Barker,  and 
Fanny  Gilman ;  Warren  Nutting,  and  Sarah  Sally ;  George 
Sawtelle,  and  Sarah  H.  Peet ;  Nathan  Wood  2d.,  and  Mary 
Gilman  ;  Abner  Kirby,  and  Mary  Garland ;  Joshua  Gilmore, 
and  Amelia  Howard ;  Cornelius  N.  Butler,  and  Mary  Sawyer ; 
Caleb  Strong  Searle,  and  Mary  A.  Ward ;  Sumner  Bixby,  and 
Sarah  H.  Carlisle  ;  Charles  N.  Bodfish,  and  Mary  A.  Wyman; 
Almiran  Tozer,  and  Lydia  Dunlap ;  Ward  S.  Hutchins,  and 
Cynthia  Mitchell. 

1839. 

Washington  Woodman,  and  Lucinda  Bradbury ;  Thatcher 
Heald,  and  Susan  L.  Crosby ;  Gustavus  L.  Wyman,  and  Julia 
Ann  Cummins ;  H.  G.  O  Lindsey,  and  Mary  Anderson  David 
Sturgess,  and  Harriet  Mason ;  Albion  S.  Dudley,  and  Lydia 
F.  Manley ;  James  S.  Manley,  and  Caroline  G.  Sewall ;  Eber 
Davis,  and  Emily  Powers. 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  181 

1840. 

Simon  Dinsmore,  and  Sarah  J.  Longley ;  Ephraim  R.  Pres- 
cott,  and  Nancy  Morse ;  George  E.  Freeman,  and  Polina  A. 
Drew ;  James  B.  Farnsworth,  and  Lydia  C.  J.  Bates ;  David 
D.  Blunt,  and  Lucinda  G.  Bishop ;  Richard  Bigley,  and  Anny 
Cook;  Isaac  Haggett,  and  Seviah  Davis;  Edward  Selden,  and 
Mary  Merrill ;  Reuben  Robbins,  and  Charlotte  Sawyer  ;  Pat- 
rick McCooley,  and  Ami  McCooley  ;  David  M.  Barker,  and 
Mary  G.  Mclntire ;  William  Heald,  and  Esther  Cutter ;  John 
Kilgore,  and  Fanny  Young;  James  Wood  2d.,  and  Elizabeth 
Blackwell. 

1841. 

Levi  O.  Savage,  and  Mary  Benson ;  Ezekiel  Emmons,  and 
Olive  W.  Taylor ;  Orren  L.  Farnsworth,  and  Clarissa  A.  Tobey; 
Elmer  Lathrop,  and  Lucetta  Dinsmore  ;  Charles  Russell,  and 
Susan  Smith ;  John  McGuire,  and  Esther  Mason ;  William 
K.  Barrett,  and  Eliza  A.  Russell ;  John  II  Loring,  and  Ann  B. 
Trafton ;  Charles  D.  Ferren,  and  Mary  Walker ;  Abel  Adams 
Jr.,  and  Mary  C.  Blackwell;  David  Sylvester,  and  Susan 
Wood ;  Oliver  Huff,  and  Cordelia  Boine  ;  Jonathan  Spaulding, 
and  Judith  Walton ;  Moses  M.  Gould,  and  Helen  L.  Hinkley ; 
Samuel  Beckey,  and  Eleanor  Kennedy ;  Allen  S.  Davis,  and 
Pheby  Greene  ;  Charles  A.  Bates,  and  Margaret  J.  Farnsworth. 

1842. 

Levi  Pai'ker,  and  Catharine  R.  Searle ;  Heman  Leathers,  and 
Sarah  Rogers  ;  Wm.  P.  Longley,  and  Roseann  Heald ;  Silas  W. 
Turner,  and  Eliza  H.  W.  Hill ;  John  Loring,  and  Clarissa  Lo- 
throp ;  Aaron  Ring,  and  Mary  T.  Toundy ;  Thomas  C.  Jones, 
and  Mary  L.  Tower ;  Ebenezer  Vaughan,  and  Loiza  Piper ; 
Jonas  Hilton,  and  Louisa  F.  Heald;  Aaron  Bickford,  and 
Mary  A.  Bowden. 

1843. 

Sewall  Nutting,  and  Sarah  Jane  Nutting ;  Wm.  W.  Morton, 
and  Abigail  B.  Blackwell ;  Howland  B.  Ramsdell,  and  Lvdia 

16* 


182  THE   HISTORY   OF 

Adams ;  Samuel  Brown,  and  Sarah  Washburn ;  Edward  C. 
Selden,  and  Mary  Ann  C.  Bates ;  George  W.  Witherell,  and 
Sarah  W.  Savage ;  Franklin  Danforth,  and  Eliza  A.  Kogers ; 
Jotham  S.  Bixby,  and  Mary  Wood ;  Jonathan  S.  Longley,  and 
Lucy  L.  Heald ;  Silas  T.  Longley,  and  Frances  Sturgess. 

1844. 

Noah  Woods,  and  Sarah  W.  Ballard ;  E.  M.  Coffin,  and 
Sarah  Myrah;  Prescott  Nutting,  and  Sarah  W.  Rogers;  Clem- 
ent Bell,  and  Sophronia  Dunlap ;  Winthrop  Norton,  Jr.,  and 
Harriet  Gray ;  B.  F.  Mclntire,  and  Lydia  W.  Taylor ;  Daniel 
H.  Linscott,  and  Harriet  N.  Mills ;  Loring  B.  Jones,  and  Sa- 
mantha  Hilton ;  Isaac  W.  Page,  and  Dolly  Parkman ;  Lewis 
Allen,  and  Julia  Ann  Purrington  ;  John  Richardson,  and  Betsey 
Hilborn ;  Selden  Wade,  and  Harriet  Blackwell ;  Solomon  W. 
Bates,  and  Elizabeth  D.  Dennis ;  William  T.  Haynes,  and  La- 
vinia  Wasson ;  John  Holbrook,  Jr.,  and  Lydia  Hall ;  Caleb 
Wood,  and  Mary  Foss. 

1845. 

Charles  Danforth,  and  Julia  J.  Dinsmore;  David  Stur- 
gess, and  Betsey  Taylor;  George  W.  Taylor,  and  Eliza- 
beth Bigelow  ;  Sylvanus  Morse,  and  Emily  E.  Black- 
well  ;  Sanborn  Dinsmore,  and  Nancy  D.  H.  Boardman  ;  James 
B.  Wood,  and  Ruth  Cutler  ;  Luther  E.  Allen,  and  Sarah  R. 
Baston;  Zachariah  W.  Nutting,  and  Seviah  Nutting;  Charles 
A.  Bates,  and  Ellen  A.  Drew  ;  Alfred  Stackpole,  and  Phebe  W. 
Hackett ;  John  Kilgore,  and  Rebeccah  Arnold. 

1846. 

Charles  K.  Turner,  and  Lucinda  H.  Page  ;  Amory  Prescott, 
and  Lucy  P.  Blackwell;  George  Farnsworth,  and  Susan  B. 
Farnsworth;  George  Rogers,  and  Clarissa  N.  Taylor;  Wellington 
Hale,  and  Eliza  Ann  Hussey ;  Eusebius  Heald,  and  Lucy  M. 
Dinsmore ;  Henry  E.  Haggett,  and  Paulina  S.  Wade ;  Albert 
H.  Parks,  and  Eliza  A.  Mclntire ;  Cyrus  Bosworth,  and  Mary 
A.  Parker. 

1847. 

Seth  Cutler,  and  Sarah  J.  Larnard;  Joshua  Jewett,  and 
Mary  Jane  O.  Hara ;  Joseph  D.  Gilman,and  Florilla  D.  Folsom; 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  183 

William  Q.  Wheeler,  and  Martha  J.  McRillis ;  Wm.  H.  Taylor, 
and  Julia  Ann  Kilgore ;  George  W.  Barker,  and  Elmira  Waugh; 
William  W.  French,  and  Sophia  A.  Otis  ;  Hugh  Dempsey,  and 
Maria  Wheeler;  Simon  N.  ,Taylor,  and  Martha  H.  T.  Rogers  ; 
Daniel  Ayers,  and  Irene  Kigers. 

1848. 

Freeman  Sawyer,  and  Elizabeth  M.  Anderson;  Cephas  R. 
Vaughan,  and  Lucinda  Bosworth;  Isaiah  A.  Pierce,  and  Maria 
Thompson;  Charles B.  Barker,  and  Mary  J.  Boynton;  Elisha 
W.  Barker,  and  Lydia  Sawyer;  Lucas  Brown,  and  Sarah 
Ward ;  Orrin  Tinkham,  and  Dolly  W.  Crane  ;  James  B# 
Wheeler,  and  Clarina  Mclntire;  Abraham  W.  Freeman,  and 
Nancy  Parlinn;  Justin  E.  Heald,  and  Caroline  Witherspoon; 
William  C.  Rogers,  and  Fidelia  Brooks;  John  S.  Hall,  and  Ro- 
sannaMurry;  Ezekiel  Jones,  Jr.,  and  Lavinia  Emerson;  Mar- 
shall Spaulding,  and  Frances  T.  Lynd;  Charles  H.  Weston,  and 
Susan  A.  Laughton;  Edward  W.  Tobey,  and  Emeline  Hoi  way. 

1849. 

Joseph  Crossman,  and  Winneford  Peters  ;  Isaac  H.  Perkins, 
and  Lydia  Cook  ;  Jason  L.  Taylor,  and  Clarissa  J.  Morton  ; 
James  B.  Brown,  and  Philena  D.  Savage  ;  Orville  W.  Tink- 
ham, and  Clarissa  Holbrook  ;  Owen  B.  Taylor,  and  Martha  J. 
Taylor. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 


ECCLESIASTICAL    MATTERS. 

They  have  left  unstained  what  there  they  found, 
Freedom  to  worship  God. — Pilgrim  Fathers. 

General  Religious  Character,  Jesse  Lee,  Methodist  Society, 
Extracts  from  the  Records  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
Baptist  Churches,  Free-will  Baptists,  Unitarians,  Univer- 
salists. 

The  proprietors  of  the  land  in  this  town,  at  the 
time  of  the  settlement,  and  until  after  the  town  was 
incorporated,  being  aware  of  the  importance  of  coun- 
tenancing the  support  of  religious  institutions,  and 
being  desirous  to  encourage  the  settlement  on  their 
lands,  proposed  to  give  each  settler  two  hundred 
acres  of  land,who  should, within  a  limited  time  estab- 
lish himself  permanently  thereon ;  and  among  other 
duties  enjoined  in  their  deeds,  each  settler  was 
required  "  to  work  upon  the  ministerial  lot,  or  in 
building  a  house  of  public  worship  of  God  two  days 
in  a  year,  for  ten  years  to  come,  when  required  by 
the  standing  committee  of  the  propriety,  or  their 
agent,  and  also  comply  with  all  town  regulations." 

The  early  settlers  in  Norridgewock,  although  far 
removed  beyond  the  limits  of  anyplace  of  public 


NOKRIDGEWOCK.  185 

worship,  and  deprived  of  religious  privileges  and 
ordinances,  did  not  forget  the  pious  instructions 
which  they  received  in  their  youth,  nor  the  precepts 
of  their  fathers,  who  were  descendants  of  the  Pil- 
grims, but  made  arrangements  among  themselves, 
without  the  assistance  of  any  ecclesiastical  council 
or  church,  for  the  due  observance  of  the  Sabbath. 
The  principal  settlers  were  professedly  pious,  and 
established  and  sustained  religious  meetings  on  the 
Sabbath,  called  reading  meetings,  in  which  the 
scriptures  and  the  works  of  Dr.  Doddridge  and  other 
eminent  divines,  were  read  with  singing  and  prayer. 

John  Clark  was  one  of  the  leaders  in  these  meet- 
ings at  first,  and  he  continued  to  take  an  active  part 
in  the  association  when  no  preacher  was  present, 
for  sixteen  years,  and  was  called  "  the  deacon;" 
although  it  does  not  appear  that  any  church  was 
organized  among  them  during  that  time.  Moriah 
Gould,  when  he  arrived,  united  with  the  association, 
and  was  an  active  and  efficient  leader  in  these  meet- 
ings ;  also  deacon  Zachariah  Longley,  who  had 
been  an  officer  in  a  Congregational  church  in  Mas- 
sachusetts ;  when  he  arrived  in  1781,  joined  with 
them  and  took  part  in  their  religious  exercises. 

They  were  occasionally  visited  by  missionaries 
or  ministers  of  different  denominations  after  1780. 
Rev.  Dr.  Whittaker,  a  Presbyterian  clergyman, was 
settled  in  Canaan  at  that  time.  And  about  the  same 
time  the  Rev.  Ezekiel  Emerson,  a  settled  Congre- 
gational minister  in  Georgetown,  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Kennebec,  being  disturbed  in  his  pastoral  rela- 


186  THE    HISTORY    OF 

tions  by  the  events  of  the  war,  and  being  desirous 
to  be  in  a  place  of  greater  safety,  removed  his  fami- 
ly to  this  town,  where  they  remained  for  four  years. 
Two  of  his  daughters  were  married  to  citizens 
of  this  town;  one  to  Josiah  Heald,  the  miller,  who 
was  the  father  of  a  large  family,  of  whom  Deacon 
Ezekiel  Heald  is  one,  who  is  still  living,  the  other  to 
Charles  Witherell,  who  was  a  revolutionary  soldier 
and  pensioner  in  his  life  time,  now  deceased.  Mrs. 
Witherell  is  still  living  in  Dover,  Maine.  They 
raised  up  a  large  family  ;  one  of  their  sons,  Samuel 
Brint  Witherell,  resides  in  this  town. 

Mr.  Emerson,  during  the  time  his  family  resided 
in  Norridgewock,  preached  to  the  people  here  oc- 
casionally, and  retained  his  pastoral  relations  with 
his  church  in  Georgetown,  and  after  four  years,  an 
ecclesiastical  council  decided  that  it  was  his  duty  to 
return  to  his  original  charge,  and  he  returned  to  that 
place  with  his  family;  but  visited  this  place  and 
preached  here  part  of  the  time  afterwards.  In  1788, 
this  town  employed  him  to  preach  to  the  amount  of 
one  hundred  dollars  ;  but  some  being  unable  to  pay 
their  proportion,  the  sum  was  raised  by  voluntary 
contributions. 

In  1790,  Rev.  Mr.  Little  of  Kennebunk,  was  em- 
ployed by  the  Massachusetts  Missionary  Society, 
and  preached  in  this  town  and  vicinity  a  short  time. 
Rev.  Mr.  Mussey  was  employed  by  the  town  for  a 
year  from  the  time  he  commenced  preaching. 

In  1793,  Rev.  Jonathan  Calef  was  employed  to 
preach  a  short  time. 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  187 

METHODIST  CHURCH. 

In  1794,  Rev.  Jesse  Lee,  the  founder  of  Metho" 
dism,  under  God,  not  only  in  this  place,  but  in  New 
England,  preached  the  first  Methodist  sermon  in  this 
town.  He  was  born  in  Virginia — his  parents  were 
respectable  members  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church,  and  he  received  a  strictly  christian  educa- 
tion ;  was  a  man  of  rare  talents,  embraced  religion 
under  the  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  through 
Methodist  preaching,  when  he  was  sixteen  years  of 
age. 

In  April,  1782,  he  was  admitted  a  member  of  the 
conference,  and  commenced  his  labors  as  a  travelling 
preacher,  and  was  appointed  in  various  places  from 
year  to  year  to  1793,  when  he  first  explored  the 
District  of  Maine,  and  preached  for  the  first  time  in 
Norridgewock,  March  11,  1794,  exciting  the  utmost 
attention  wherever  he  went,  laying  out  work  for  his 
coadjutors  who  might  follow  him.  The  Kennebec 
circuit  was  formed  in  1796,  which  embraced  Nor- 
ridgewock and  all  the  towns  on  the  river  above  and 
the  towns  adjacent,  and  was  afterwards  called  the 
Norridgewock  Circuit.  During  this  year  the  first 
class  of  the  Methodists  was  formed  in  this  town, 
consisting  of  twelve  or  fifteen  members.  The  whole 
number  of  Methodists  in  Maine  at  this  time  was 
three  hundred  and  fifty-seven,  but  no  returns  were 
made  from  this  circuit  till  1798. 

In  1797,  Rev.    Cyrus  Stebbins  was  appointed  to 
this  circuit. 

In  1798,  Rev.  Jesse  Stoneman  who  reported  the 


188  THE    HISTORY    OF 

whole  number  in  his  circuit,  one  hundred  and  hu>- 
three. 

In  1799,  Rev.  Roger  Searle  was  on  this  circuit. 

In  1800,  Rev.  Epaphras  Kibby.  There  was  a 
revival  during  this  year,  and  the  number  of  mem- 
bers in  this  town  then  exceeded  twenty  ;  but  was 
afterwards  reduced  by  removals  and  deaths  from 
year  to  year  to  1816  to  1820,  when  it  did  not  exceed 
twelve.  The  limits  of  the  circuit  have  been  chang- 
ed so  often  and  so  many  variations  made,  that  the 
original  records  cannot  now  be  found.  When  the 
number  was  small,  they  were  attached  sometimes  to 
one  circuit  and  then  to  another,  and  during  several 
years  but  little  regular  preaching  was  had,  and  that 
in  a  remote  part  of  the  town.  The  following  preach- 
ers have  been  employed  a  portion  of  the  time  in  this 
town  since  1800,  namely  : 

Rev.  Messrs.  Sneliing,  Heath,  Webb,  Fairbanks. 
Newell,  Atwell,  Luce,  Hutchin,  Greenleaf,  and 
Gorham  Greeley,  Robinson,  Ward,  Drew,  Lord, 
Blake,  True,  Alton,  Hutchinson,  Allen,  Church, 
Downing,  Thurston,  Hill,  Nickerson,  and  several 
others.  Rev.  Obed  Wilson,  a  local  preacher,  was 
employed  one  fourth  part  of  the  time  in  1819,  and 
part  of  the  time  for  two  or  three  following  years, 
when  there  was  no  regular  Methodist  preaching  in 
the  village. 

There  was  quite  a  revival  under  the  labors  of 
Rev.  Greenleaf  Greeley  in  1826,  and  the  number  in 
this  town  then  exceeded  thirty,  since  that  time  some 
have  been  added,  but  more  have  removed  or  died, 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  189 

or  withdrawn,  so  that  the  number  now  is  but  twen- 
ty-five, two  have  died  during  the  year  past,  and 
two  have  removed.  The  society  has.  never  been 
able  to  support  preaching  more  than  one  fourth  part 
of  the  time. 

Members  of  the  Methodist  Society  in  Norridge- 
wock,  1849. 

,    John   Bates,  Class  Leader. 

Wm.  Farns worth,    )  vm^^a* 
Wm.  Allen,  $  Stewards. 

Susan  Farns  worth,  Eliakim  Tobey, 

Hannah  Allen,  Richard  Swift, 

Cyrus  Heald,  Mrs.  Swift, 

Pamela  Heald,  Josiah  Butler  2d., 

Charlotte  Heald,  Joseph  L.  Savage, 

Wm.  H.  Rogers,  Mrs.  Savage, 

Lydia  Rogers,  Moses  Brown, 

Sarah  Longley,  Mrs.  Brown, 

Cynthia  Clark,  Joel  Mclntire, 

Nancy  Harlow,  David  G.  Frederick, 

Paulena  Whalin,  Hannah  G.  Frederick, 

Sarah  Allen. 

Samuel  Smith  and  Rhoda  Longley  died  in  1848. 

17 


190  THE   HISTORY   OF 

CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH. 

Several  clergymen  of  this  denomination  early 
visited  this  town.  Rev.  Ezekiel  Emerson  is  sup- 
posed to  have  preached  the  first  English  sermon  in 
this  town.  He  preached  in  this  place  occasionally, 
previous  to  its  incorporation  in  1788.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Mr.  Mussey,  Little,  and  Calef. 

In  1796,  Rev.  Phinehas  Randall  visited  this  town 
and  spent  some  time  in  acceptable  and  successful 
labors.  An  extensive  revival  occurred  under  the 
preaching  of  Mr.  Randall.  Fifty  in  this  place  and 
vicinity  became  the  hopeful  subjects  of  renewing 
grace. 

Of  the  fruits  of  this  reformation  which  occurred 
in  1796,  a  Congregational  *church  was  gathered  in 
Norridgewock,  and  organized  Sept.  22,  1797,  con- 
sisting of  24  members.  The  ecclesiastical  council, 
called  for  the  purpose,  was  composed  of  the  follow- 
ing pastors  and  delegates  from  the  churches,  viz.  : 
Rev.  Ezekiel  Emerson,  Pastor,  and  Bro.  Isaiah 
Wyman,  delegate  from  the  church  in  Georgetown. 
Rev.  Jona.  Calef,  Pastor,  and  Bros.  William  Stew- 
ard and  Solomon  Clark  from  the  church  in  Canaan, 
Bros.  Jason  Livermore  and  Henry  Sewall  from  the 

*Note. — "  Feb.  1797.  As  yet  there  was  no  church  in  town.  The 
inhabitants  seemed  to  think  it  important  that  there  should  be  one,  and 
inserted  in  the  warrant  for  town  meeting  in  February,  the  following  ar- 
ticle, viz. :  '  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  establish  a  church  in  this 
town  in  the  Congregational  order.'  When  assembled  the  town  very 
wisely  voted  to  dismiss  the  article,  probably  feeling  sensible  that  this 
was  not  the  proper  course  to  effect  so  desirable  an  end.  Council  as- 
sembled to  form  the  church  in  Sept.  of  that  year." — [Greenleaf's  Ec- 
clesiastical Sketches  of  Maine,    g 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  191 

church  in  Hallowell.  Rev.  Mr.  Emerson  was  cho- 
sen moderator,  and  Bro.  Henry  Sewall  Scribe.  The 
following  persons  were  examined  as  to  their  qualifi- 
cations for  membership,  viz.  :  Moriah  Gould,  John 
Cook,  Simon  Pierce,  Jona.  Robbins,  Amos  Adams 
Solomon  Bixby,  Jas.  Thompson,  Josiah  Spaulding, 
Edmund  Parker,  Robert  Whitcomb,  Amos  Adams 
jr.,  David  Pierce,  Martha  Oilman,  Eliza  Robins, 
Susanna  Kidder,  Margaret  Farnsworth,  Hannah 
Farnham,  Esther  Richards,  Mary  Spaulding,  Olive 
Pierce,  Isabel  Thompson,  Mary  Parker,  Lucy  Wood, 
Sarah  Warren.  The  examination  being  satisfacto- 
ry, the  council  voted,  the  above  named  persons,  24 
in  number,  be  incorporated  into  a  Congregational 
church  in  Norridgewock ;  and  they  are  incorporated 
accordingly. 

Signed,  Ezekiel  Emerson,  Moderator. 

Attest:  Henry  Sewall,  Scribe. 

Their  confession  of  faith  and  covenant,  were  sub- 
stantially the  same  as  those  adopted  by  the  evangel- 
ical Congregational  churches  generally  in  Massachu- 
setts. 

The  first  moderator  was  Moriah  Gould,  and  Wm. 
Sylvester  the  first  clerk.  Eighteen  other  members 
were  received  into  the  church  the  same  year,  and 
six  were  added  during  the  year  following.  During 
this,  and  a  part  of  the  next  year,  they  were  supplied 
with  occasional  preaching  by  Rev.  Messrs.  Emerson, 
McLain  of  Bristol,  Ward  of  New  Milford,  and 
Gillet  of  Hallowell.  Also  by  Rev.  J.  Sewall,  who 
was  hired  to  preach  half  the  time  for  six  months. 


192  THE    HISTORY   OF 

By  the  same  they  were  supplied  occasionally  during 
the  three  following  years,  in  which  time  four  were 
added  to  their  number. 

Among  some  by  laws  adopted  by  the  church,  are 
the  following,  viz. :  One  brother  shall  not  commence 
a  suit  at  law  with  another. 

One  brother  shall  not  defame  the  character  or 
speak  evil  of  another. 

Every  brother  having  a  family,  for  the  neglect  or 
omission  of  family  worship,  shall  be  liable  to  church 
action  in  such  way  as  they  shall  deem  proper. 

No  heresy  shall  be  tolerated  in  members  of 
church. 

Members  of  the  church  in  town,  especially  males, 
shall  attend  public  worship,  and  church  meetings, 
unless  prevented  by  the  hand  of  providence ;  and  for 
their  carelessness  or  wilful  neglect,  shall  be  subject 
to  admonition. 

In  1801,  Rev.  M.  Wines  preached  a  Sabbath  or 
two,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Sewall  occasionally.  Sometime 
in  1802,  Rev.  Mr.  Stetson  moved  into  the  place,  and 
was  employed  to  preach  a  part  of  the  time  for  two 
years  or  more,  and  some  efforts  were  made  by  the 
church  to  form  a  religious  society,  with  a  view  to 
settling  him,  but  the  effort  was  not  successful.  Mr. 
Stetson  being  rather  ultra  in  his  sentiments,  in  some 
instances,  "cut  off  the  ears  of  people  by  his  preach- 
ing," as  he  was  told  by  a  brother  in  the  ministry. 
Some  time  in  1804,  hejeft  the  place,  and  has  since 
become  a  Universalist. 

The  same  year  Rev.   Mr.  Marcy  was  hired  on 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  193 

trial,  with  a  view  of  settling  him.  But  subsequently 
"  the  town  voted  not  to  settle  or  hire  him."  In 
1806,  the  church  hired  Rev.  Mr.  Sewall,  in  the  hope 
of  effecting  a  settlement.  But  did  not  obtain  the 
object.     Eight  members  were  added  this  year. 

1807.  After  being  destitute  a  long  time,  they  were 
visited  by  Rev.  Mr.  Sawyer,  who  administered  the 
ordinances.  After  him,  Rev.  Mr.  Oliver  preached 
a  Sabbath,  and  in  ]  808,  Rev.  Mr.  Sewall  preached 
occasionally.  In  1809,  the  church  made  a  formal 
application  to  Mr.  Sewall,  to  settle  with  them  ;  but 
received  a  negative  answer.  He  however  preached 
for  them  occasionally  ;  as  also  did  Rev.  Mr.  Cay- 
ford.  A  season  of  fasting  and  prayer  was  observed, 
with  a  view  of  obtaining  the  settlement  of  a  minis- 
ter. In  1810,  they  were  cheered  with  the  prospect 
of  obtaining  the  object  they  so  much  desired.  Mr. 
Allen  Greely  visited  them,  at  their  invitation,  and 
preached  two  Sabbaths ;  then  left  to  spend  two  or 
three  Sabbaths  in  Turner,  according  to  a  previous 
engagement,  giving  encouragement  however,  that 
he  would  then  return  and  preach  on  probation,  as 
requested.  But  soon  after  the  church  received  a 
letter  from  Mr.  Greely,  informing  them,  to  their  great 
disappointment,  that  he  had  concluded  to  remain  in 
Turner,  where  he  subsequently  settled. 

In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year,  they  were  visit- 
ed by  a  Mr.  Beardsley,  sent  by  the  Maine  Mission- 
ary Society,  to  preach  four  Sabbaths.  This  called 
forth  an  effort  on  the  part  of  the  church,  to  raise  by 

subscription,  two  hundred  dollars,  which  would  se- 
17* 


194  THE    HISTORY    OF 

cure  his  services  half  the  time  for  a  year.  But  not 
being  able  to  raise  the  amount  by  $70,  the  effort 
failed.  .  Mr.  Beardsley  left,  and  they  were  again 
destitute.  In  1811,  the  church  voted  to  observe  the 
quarterly  concert  of  prayer,  which  was  observed  to 
some  extent  in  New  England.  In  July  of  this  year, 
Mr.  Harvey  Loomis  visited  the  place,  as  a  mission- 
ary, and  preached  three  Sabbaths,  then  left  for  Ban- 
gor— giving  encouragement  that  he  would  soon  re- 
turn and  preach  as  a  candidate  for  settlement ;  and 
measures  were  taken  to  effect  the  object  of  a  settle- 
ment. Meantime  Mr.  Willard  Preston,  a  missiona- 
ry, preached  a  Sabbath  or  two.  Mr.  Sewali  also, 
and  administered  the  sacrament.  And  here  the 
clerk  writes,  "  This  is  the  23d  time  the  sacrament 
has  been  administered  to  this  church,  and  yet  we 
have  no  pastor.  But  we  have  a  gleam  of  hope,  that 
we  may  obtain  Mr.  Loomis.'5  Soon  after,  he  wrote 
again.  "  Our  hopes  were  all  blasted.  Mr.  Loom- 
is  settled  in  Bangor." 

In  Nov.  same  year,  Rev.Benjamin  Rice  came  into 
the  place,  sent  by  the  Massachusetts  Missionary  So- 
ciety, and  spent  five  weeks.  His  labors  were  very 
satisfactory  to  the  church,  though  not  pleasing  to 
some  others. 

In  1812,  Rev.  Mr.  Sewali  preached  several  times, 
and  observed  with  the  church  a  season  of  prayer 
and  fasting,  and  baptized  several  children.  Rev. 
John  Sawyer  supplied  them  a  Sabbath  or  two.  In 
Sept.  of  this  year,  Mr.  Paul  Jewett  was  sent  to  them 
by  the   Maine  Missionary  Society,   and   preached 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  195 

eight  Sabbaths.     With   thanks  for  aid,   the  church 
sent  to  the  Missionary  Society.  $32. 

1813.  This  year  the  church's  hopes  of  obtaining 
a  pastor  were  again  raised,  and  raised  to  be  again 
disappointed.  Mr.  Ebenezer  P.  Sperry,  from  the 
Andover  Seminary,  visited  the  place,  and  in  Febru- 
ary, was  employed  to  preach  as  a  candidate  for  set- 
tlement. The  church  gave  him  a  call  to  settle. 
The  town  concurred,  and  voted  to  give  him  $250  the 
first  year,  and  to  increase  the  sum  $50  a  year  till  it 
should  amount  to  $500.  Mr.  Sperry  gave  an  affir- 
mative answer.  But  wishing  to  consult  his  friends 
farther  before  fixing  the  time  for  ordination,  chang- 
ed his  mind  ;  wrote  to  the  committee,  revoking  his 
acceptance,  and  declining  their  invitation  wholly. 
The  church  were  not  only  disappointed,  but  well 
nigh  discouraged.  They  had  struggled  hard  for 
sixteen  years  to  obtain  stated  preaching  ;  but  could 
not  sustain  it  any  length  of  time  for  want  of  means. 
They  had  made  several  attempts  to  settle  a  minis- 
ter for  half  the  time,  but  could  not  obtain  the  co-op- 
eration of  some  out  of  the  church,  on  whose  aid  they 
depended  to  secure  such  an  object.  But  now  hav- 
ing obtained  the  concurrent  vote  of  the  town  to  give 
Mr.  Sperry  a  call  to  settle  for  the  whole  time,  and 
to  aid  in  his  support;  and  having  obtained  his  ac- 
ceptance, then  to  fail  through  his  refusal,  was  a  dis- 
appointment they  were  not  expecting.  But  to  their 
credit  it  should  be  stated  that  though  destitute  of 
preaching  hitherto,  yet  they  had  maintained  public 
worship  by  holding  society   mnetings,  in  which  the 


196  THE    HISTORY    OF 

reading  of  sermons  was  substituted  for  preaching. 
They  also  maintained  a  monthly  church  conference 
and  other  prayer  meetings.  Nor  were  they  yet  dis- 
couraged. In  October  of  that  year  (1813)  their 
present  pastor,  Rev.  J.  Peet,  visited  the  place,  sent 
by  the  Maine  Missionary  Society  for  two  weeks.  At 
the  close  of  worship  on  the  second  Sabbath,  (it  be- 
ing understood  he  was  to  leave  next  day)  a  volun- 
tary contribution  was  taken  of  $10  for  the  Mission- 
ary Society.  But  his  detention  a  day  or  two. 
by  a  storm,  gave  rise  to  an  effort  to  detain  him 
longer.  A  number  of  the  chureh,  and  some  others 
were  collected  together,  who,  after  consultation, 
raised  a  subscription  of  $120,  (which  was  after- 
wards increased  to  $150)  for  the  purpose  of  obtain- 
ing his  labors  half  the  time,  till  it  should  be  exhaust- 
ed, with  the  design  that  the  Missionary  Society 
should  employ  him  the  other  half  in  the  vicinity. 
The  society  accorded  with  the  measure,  and  Mr. 
Peet  proceeded  to  labor  in  the  town  and  vicinity 
alternately.  During  the  winter,  some  special  inte- 
rest was  awakened,  and  some  ten  persons  obtained 
hope  in  Christ.  And  it  is  worthy  of  notice,  that 
most  of  these  conversions  occurred  in  those  families, 
that  in  addition  to  their  subscription,  gratuitously 
boarded  the  missionary, 

In  April,  1814,  The  Church  was  called  to  part 
with  their  beloved  Brother,  Dea.  Simon  Pierce,  a 
valuable  member,  who  had  been  a  pillar  in  the 
church  from  its  organization ;  a  consistant  christian, 
and  worthy  citizen.     He  had  recently  removed  to 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  197 

Chesterville,  but  did  not  remove  his  relation  from 
this  church,  till  called  to  join  the  Church  trium- 
phant. In  May,  five  were  added  to  the  church,  of 
the  fruits  of  the  revival  of  the  preceding  winter, 
being  the  only  additions,  with  two  exceptions,  since 
1810.  About  this  time,  was  removed  by  death, 
Lucy  Wood,  3rd.  wife  of  the  late  Oliver  Wood 
Esq,  a  sister  beloved,  and  mother  in  Israel,  aged  69. 
On  the  23d  of  this  month,  the  church  passed  a 
unanimous  vote  to  give  Mr.  Peet  a  call  to  become 
their  Pastor,  and  to  labor  with  them  such  portion 
of  the  time  each  year,  as  they  should  be  able  to 
sustain  him.  And  the  town,  at  a  subsequent  meet^ 
ing,  concurred  and  voted  to  give  him  two  hundred 
dollars  annually,  and  be  entitled  to  his  services  two 
fifths  of  the  time,  provided  that  the  Missionary  So- 
ciety would  employ  him  the  remainder  in  the  vicin- 
ity. The  Society  approved  of  the  plan,  employed 
him  accordingly,  and  allowed  him  to  spend  another 
fifth,  making  half  the  time  in  Norridgewock.  Mr. 
Peet  accepted  the  invitation,  and  his  ordination  took 
place  on  the  4th  of  August  following.  The  ordina- 
tion services  were  performed  by  the  following  min- 
isters, and  in  the  manner  following.  Rev.  Mr. 
Lovejoy  offered  the  introductory  prayer;  Rev.  Mr. 
Jenks  preached  the  sermon  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Sewall  offered 
the  consecrating  prayer;  Rev.  Mr.  Gillet  gave  the 
charge  to  the  pastor;  Rev.  Mr.  Holt  gave  the  right 
hand  of  fellowship ;  Rev.  Mr.  Ward  gave  the  charge 
to  the  church  and  people,  and  the  closing  prayer 
was  offered  by  Rev.  Mr.  Tappan. 


198  THE   HISTORY   OF 

The  same  month,  Bro.  Ezekiel  Hale  was  unani- 
mously chosen  Deacon,  to  be  associated  with  Dea. 
Solomon  Bixby,  who  had  been  previously  chosen 
to  that  office. 

In  June,  1815,  the  record  notices  the  death  of  an 
aged  and  respected  brother  in  the  church,  Dea, 
Zachariah  Longley,  one  of  the  early  members. 

A  season  of  prayer  and  fasting  was  observed,  in 
view  of  the  low  state  of  religious  feeling.  The 
church  agreed  to  observe  the  monthly  concert  of 
prayer  for  Foreign  Missions,  and  also,  to  take  a 
collection  at  each  meeting,  in  aid  of  the  object  for 
which  prayer  was  offered  ;  believing  it  proper  that 
alms  and  prayers  should  go  together.  These  Col- 
lections averaged  fifteen  dollars  a  year,  for  the 
twenty-four  years  of  their  continuance,  the  meetings 
being  in  general,  but  thinly  attended,  and  the 
contributors  few  in  number. 

During  this  year  and  the  three  following,  the 
church  dismissed  two  members,  excommunicated 
one,  and  admitted  three. 

In  Dec.  1818,  spent  a  day  in  prayer  and  fasting, 
in  view  of  the  prevailing  sickness  among  us. 

1819.  In  Febuary,  the  church  observed  a  sea- 
son of  prayer  and  fasting,  in  view  of  the  Spiritual 
dearth  that  had  so  long  prevailed,  and  the  need  of 
a  revival  of  religion.  This  proved  to  be  a  year  of 
favor,  and  distinguished  from  some  past  years,  by 
the  presence  of  the  Holy  Spirit;  as  effects  of  which 
a  number  obtained  hope  in  Christ,  thirteen  of  whom 
were  received   into   this  church.     As  these  were 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  199 

mostly  heads  of  families,  the  children  that  were 
dedicated  to  God  by  them  and  received  baptism, 
were  twenty  six. 

Here  we  find  recorded,  the  death  of  their  pious, 
devoted  sister,  Olive  Pierce. 

1820.  The  peace  of  the  church  was  interrupted 
with  some  unpleasant  cases  of  discipline,  which 
resulted  in  the  excommunication  of  one  member 
this  year,  and  two  the  next. 

1822.  January  9,  and  Febuary  23,  were  observ- 
ed as  seasons  of  prayer  and  fasting,  in  view  of  the 
low  state  of  religion  and  need  of  a  revival.  To- 
ward the  close  of  1824,  appearances  became  more 
favorable.  Another  season  of  prayer  and  fasting 
was  observed.  Two  were  added  to  the  church. 
Some  members  were  quickened,  and  praying  for  a 
revival. 

1825.  September  7,  the  record  notes  the  death 
of  their  much  gloved  brother,  Moriah  Gould,  an 
uniformly  consistent  and  exemplary  christian,  one 
of  the  original  members,  and  a  pillar  of  the  church 
for  twenty  eight  years,  always  at  his  post  in  the 
church  conference  and  prayer  meeting.  In  July 
several  of  the  wealthiest  of  those  who  had  been  as- 
sociated with  the  church  in  supporting  the  gospel 
hitherto,  withdrew  their  aid,  and  uniting  with  others, 
originated  a  Unitarian  meeting,  and  employed  Rev. 
Mr.  Fessenden,  a  minister  of  that  order,  to  preach 
during  the  season.  Though  this  movement  increas- 
the  burden  of  the  church,  it  did  not  discourage 
them.     In  addition  to  making  up   the   deficiency 


200  THE    HISTORY   OF 

hereby  occasioned,  they  raised  by  subscription,  in 
the  following  spring  of  1826,  a  further  sum,  sufficient 
to  secure  the  labors  of  their  pastor  three  fourths  of 
the  time  in  future,  instead  of  half,  as  heretofore. 
This  circumstance,  together  with  a  revival  of  relig- 
ion, which  commenced  at  this  time,  formed  a  new 
era  in  the  history  of  this  church.  Increasing  inters 
est  and  solemnity  were  apparent  in  the  meetings 
during  the  winter.  In  the  siprng  a  season  of  prayer 
and  fasting  was  observed.  Soon  after,  several  inter- 
esting cases  of  conversion  occurred.  The  religious 
interest  increased,  cases  of  hopeful  conversion 
occurred  weekly  through  the  summer,  and  there 
were  added  to  the  church  during  that  year,  of  the 
fruits  of  that  work  of  grace,  thirty  four  members, 
to  sixteen  of  whom  baptism  was  administered,  and 
to  thirty  three  of  their  children.  Other  denomina- 
tions shared  in  the  fruits  of  the  revival,  particularly 
the  Methodists.  Among  those  admitted  to  their 
church,  were  three  brothers,  one  of  whom  contin- 
ues not,  by  reason  of  death.  The  other  two  are 
educated  and  highly  esteemed  ministers  of  that 
order,  and  occupying  some  of  the  most  important 
locations  in  the  State. 

In  September  27,  was  removed  by  death,  William 
Sylvester  Esq.,  a  brother  much  esteemed  and  much 
lamented.  He  had  been  an  efficient  member  twenty  - 
nine  years;  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary 
decison  of  character,  and  a  valuable  citizen.  In 
November,  united  with  the  Methodists  in  holding  a 


NORRTDGEWOCK.  201 

season  of  fasting  and  prayer,  with  a  view  to  pro- 
mote harmony  of  feeling  and  action,  and  the  continu- 
ance of  the  revival.  The  following  year  exhibited 
less  religious  interest,  and  seven  only  were  admitted 
to  the  church,  and  four  were  dismissed.  Here  the 
record  shows  the  death  of  Jane  Leathhead,  aged  81 : 
an  eminently  devout  and  matured  saint,  who 
always  attended  public  worship  as  long  as  she  was 
able  to  get  to  the  place,  though  she  could  not  hear  a 
word.  But  "she  wished  to  be  present  where  God 
was  worshiped."  And  meditating  upon  the  text, 
and  hymns,  which  would  be  shown  her,  with  her 
heart  uplifted  to  God,  she  generally  found  herself 
much  edified  and  refreshed  in  spirit,  though  she 
could  not  hear  the  preacher.    She  resided  in  Anson. 

1828,  was  commenced  with  a  season  of  prayer 
and  fasting,  with  a  view  to  the  increase  of  spiritu- 
ality, and  religious  interest  among  them. 

Desiring  to  aid  in  the  suppression  of  intemperance, 
the  church  passed  the  following  resolution. 

Resolved:  That  we  abstain  from  the  use  of 
ardent  spirits  ourselves,  and  use  all  justifiable  means 
to  prevent  its  use  by  all  others. 

1830.  The  church  were  again  afflicted  by  the 
death  of  their  esteemed  brother,  Jonathan  Bosworth. 

1831.  During  the  three  preceding  years,  twelve 
were  admitted  and  ten  dismissed.  The  close  of  the 
year  was  marked  with  some  indications  of  a  revi- 
val. Several  conversions  occurred,  and  the  church 
decided  that  it  was  expedient  to  hold   a   series  of 

meetings,  to   commence  the   7th   of   next   month, 

18 


THE    HISTORY    OF 

(January.)  and  agreed  to  observe  the  first  Monday 
in  that  month  as  a  season  of  prayer  and  fasting,  in 
view  of  the  contemplated  meeting.  The  fast  was 
observed,  and  the  meeting  held  and  continued  six 
days ;  and  resulted  in  the  hopeful  conversion  of  a 
number.  Next  month  another  fast  was  observed, 
with  reference  to  the  serious,  and  the  continuance 
of  the  revival.  Of  the  fruits  of  this  work,  twenty 
were  added  to  the  church  during  the  year. 

The  12th  of  July  was  observed  as  a  day  of  fasting 
and  prayer,  in  accordance  with  a  recommendation 
of  the  general  conference,  u  in  view  of  the  fearful 
ravages  the  cholera  is  making,  and  the  alarming 
fact  that  it  has  appeared  on  our  shores,  and  com- 
menced its  ravages  in  our  country." 

In  the  same  month,  the  church  resolved  itself  into 
a  missionary  society,  auxiliary  to  Maine  Missionary 
Society,  that  it  might  more  systematically  aid  the 
missionary  cause  by  its  annual  collections. 

1833.  The  first  day  of  the  year  was  observed  by 
the  church,  in  connection  with  the  Baptist  Brethren, 
as  a  season  of  prayer  for  spiritual  blessings.  With- 
in this  year  16  children  were  baptized,  to  all  of 
whom  belonged  the  surname  of  Bixby.  In  October 
another  day  was  devoted  to  public  prayer  for  spir- 
itual blessings. 

February,  1835.  After  a  sermon,  preached  before 
the  Association,  which  met  in  the  place,  the  following 
brethren,  viz.,  Ezekiel  Hale,  John  Wood,  John 
Loring  and  William  W.  Dinsmore,  having  been 
previously  chosen,  were  now  ordained  to  the  office 


N0RR1DGEW0CK.  203 

of  deacon,  by  prayer  and  laying  on  of  hands.  Se- 
lect scriptures  were  read  by  the  pastor,  the  conse- 
crating prayer  was  offered  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hatha- 
way,an  address  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sikes, and  concluding 
prayer  by  Rev.  Mr.  May. 

During  this  year,  fourteen *were  added,  and  one 
restored  who  had  been  excommunicated,  and  four 
dismissed. 

In  September,  is  recorded  the  death  of  their  much 
esteemed  brother,  Dea.  Solomon  Bixby,  one  of  the 
original  members,  who  had  been  a  pillar  in  the 
church  thirty  eight  years.  Though  he  lived  remote 
from  the  sanctuary,  yet  he  was  rarely  absent  from 
public  worship,  or  the  church  conference,  and  for 
many  years  assisted  in  conducting  public  worship 
when  destitute  of  a  preacher.  He  reared  up  a  large 
and  respectable  family,  most  of  whom  settled  in  the 
same  neighborhood;  and,  in  accordance  with  his 
example  and  training,  are  among  the  liberal  sup- 
porters of  that  gospel  which  he  prized.  Of  his 
children,  Jive,  and  of  his  grand-children  four,  are 
members  of  the  same  church  which  he  left,  and  one 
of  the  latter  is  preparing  for  the  ministry. 

In  1836,  Bro.  Edmund  Parker  died  suddenly  with 
apoplexy.  He  was  the  last  of  the  original  male 
members.  h 

At  a  meeting  of  the  church  in  July  18#7,  the 
following  resolution  was  introduced  by  Dea.  Dins- 
more,  and  unanimously  adopted. 

Resolved:  That  relying  on  the  divine  blessing 
upon  our  efforts,  we  will  sustain  our  minister  the 
whole   time  among  ourselves,  without  calling  upon 


THE    HISTORY    OF 


the  missionary  society  to  employ  him  any  portion 
of  it  elsewhere.  The  sum  they  here  resolved  to 
raise  was  four  hundred  dollars  annually.  The 
Sabbath  following,  they  met  for  worship  the  first 
time  in  the  new  vestry,  which  had  been  fitted  up 
for  their  use  in  the  basement  of  the  old  meeting 
house,  and  which  furnished  a  commodious  place 
for  worship  at  their  disposal,  now  needed  till  a  more 
eligible  place  should  be  finished,  which  was  pre- 
paring. 

In  1838,some  increased  religious  interest  apparent. 
A  season  of  prayer  and  fasting  observed.  Also  a 
series  of  union  meetings  held  by  the  different 
denominations,  the  result  of  which  was  beneficial. 
Four  were  added  to  the  church.  Here  is  recorded 
the  death  of  Lucy,  the  wife  of  Sumner  Bixby,  a 
beloved  sister  and  worthy  member. 

July,  1838.  Their  new  place  of  worship  being 
now  completed,  by  remodeling  the  old  meeting 
house,  was  this  day  dedicated  to  God  the  Fa- 
ther, Son  and  Holy  Ghost.  Invocation  and 
reading  the  scriptures,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Sikes ;  Sermon 
by  the  Pastor,  from  Eccl.  5 :  1.  Dedicatory  prayer 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Tucker.  Concluding  prayer  by  Rev. 
Mr.  Hathaway.  A  difficulty  which  had  existed 
between  three  members  was  referred  to  an  ecclesi- 
astical council,  the  result  of  which,  being  accepted 
by  the  parties,  the  matter  was  adjusted. 

1843,  During  this  year  nine  were  added  by  pro- 
fession, and  five  by  letter,  and  during  the  six  years 
immediately  preceding,  ten   only  were  added,  and 


N0RR1DGEW0CK.  205 

eight  dismissed.  In  1844,  three  beloved  sisters  were 
removed  by  death,  viz.,  the  Avife  and  the  mother  of 
Brother  D.  Farnsworth.  The  latter  was  the  second 
wife  of  the  late  Edmund  Parker,  and  was  the  last 
of  the  original  members  but  one.  Also  Abbe,  the 
wife  of  Seth  Cutler,  and  daughter  of  brother 
Cornelius  Norton. 

In  1845,  three  were  added  and  three  dismissed. 
And  in  1846,  three  were  added  and  three  dismissed, 
and  two  removed  by  death;  viz.,  the  wife  of  the  late 
Moriah  Gould,    also  the  wife  of  Eusebius   Heald. 

In  1847,  six  were  added  by  letter,  three  dismissed 
and  four  removed  by  death ;  viz.,  Sybil  Moore, 
daughter  of  the  late  Jonathan  Bosworth,  Reuben 
Dinsmore,  Eliza  Crosby,  and  Mary,  wife  of  the  late 
William  Sylvester.  She  was  a  mother  in  Israel, 
and  much  beloved. 

In  1848,  five  were  added.  During  this  year  the 
church  were  deeply  afflicted  by  the  death  of  their 
beloved  brother,  Dea.  Wm.  W.  Dinsmore,  which 
took  place  July  26.  While  laboring  in  his  field, 
he  fell  lifeless  to  the  ground.  By  his  death,  the 
church  sustained  an  irreparable  loss.  One  of  their 
main  pillars  was  taken  away ;  not  only  a  leading 
member,  but  an  efficient  member,  always  at  his 
post;  seeing  what  needed  to  be  done,  and  doing  it 
as  far  as  able ;  a  peace  maker,  and  a  man  of  prayer. 

In  September,  Bro.  Sumner  Bixby  was  elected  to 
the  office  of  deacon,  to  be  associated  with  Dea.  E. 
Hale ;  taking  the  place  of  the  lamented  brother 
named  above. 

18* 


206  THE    HISTORY    OF 

1849.     Two  members  have  been  added  since  the 
commencement  of  the  present  year. 

This  sketch  will  show  that  a  Congregational 
church  has  existed  in  Norridgewock  more  than 
fifty-one  years ;  that  up  to  1813?  the  time  their  pres- 
ent pastor  first  visited  them,  the  number  that  had 
been  connected  with  the  church,  .was  seventy-six, 
and  that  forty-three  only,  were  then  found  remain- 
ing. The  records  during  that  period  not  being  very 
full,  show  but  five  baptisms  of  adults,  and  fifty-three 
of  children.  Since  that  time,  one  hundred  a  nd 
sixty-two  have  been  added,  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  by  profession,  and  thirty-seven  by  letter :  and 
baptism  has  been  administered  to  forty-two  adults, 
and  to  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  children  ;  in  all, 
to  two  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

The  whole  number  who  have  connected  them- 
selves with  the  church,  is  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
eight.  Of  this  number,  fifty  have  been  removed  by 
death  ;  averaging  about  one  a  year.  Eighty  have 
been  dismissed,  to  other  Congregational  churches, 
more  than  fifty  of  whom,  are  supposed  to  be  still 
living.  And  efforts  to  maintain  discipline  have 
resulted  in  the  excommunication  of  ten  members. 
The  present  number  is  about  one  hundred. 

The  church  and  society  enjoyed  the  labors  of 
their  pastor  the  first  twelve  years  after  his  settle- 
ment, but  half  the  time,  and  the  next  eleven  years, 
three  fourths  ;  and  since  1837  they  have  sustained 
him  the  whole  time.     The  other  portion  of  the  time 


NORRIDGEWOCK. 


207 


lie  has  been  employed  by  missionary  societies,  and 
his  labors  have  been  distributed  among  thirty  towns 
in  the  vicinity,  though  in  some  instances,  he  has 
been  employed  by  a  church  one  fourth  of  the  year, 
mainly  or  wholly  by  their  own  efforts. 

The  records  show  that  the  church,  in  compliance 
with  letters  missive  from  sister  churches,  have  voted 
to  send  pastor  and  delegates  to  sit  in  forty  ecclesi- 
astical councils;  viz.,  five  for  organizing  churches, 
twenty-three  for  ordaining  or  installing  ministers, 
eight  for  dismissing  ministers,  and  four  for  settling 
difficulties. 

The  church  and  society,  it  appears,  have  attempt- 
ed something  from  year  to  year,  in  aid  of  the  vari- 
ous objects  of  Christian   benevolence,   even  before 
they  felt   themselves   able   to   support   the   gospel 
wholly  among  themselves.     And  in  order  to   meet 
the  calls  of  these  various  objects,  and  render  aid  to 
each,  they  found  it  necessary  to  have  some  system 
in  their  operations ;  hence  they  formed  associations, 
male  and   female,  auxiliary  to  the  American  Tract 
Society,  to   the   Home  Missionary  Society,  and   to 
the  Foreign  Missionary  Society.     Then  in  making 
a  collection  for  some  one  of  these  benevolent  socie- 
ties,  they  would  call   in   the   subscriptions   of  its 
auxiliary  associations,  and  in  some  instances  take 
a  public  contribution  in   addition.     Then   after  an 
interval  of  two  months  or  more,  they  have  made  a 
collection    for   some    other   benevolent   object,   by 
paying  in  the  assessments  or  subscriptions  as  auxil- 
iaries to  that  society,  and  so  on,  making  collections 


208  THE   HISTORY    OF 

at  suitable  intervals  through  the  year.  In  this  way, 
in  addition  to  what  they  had  done  in  supporting  the 
gospel  at  home,  they  have  contributed  to  the  cause 
of  Foreign  Missions,  more  than  one  thousand  dollars, 
including  one  hundred  and  more,  raised  by  juvenile 
societies,  for  the  support  and  education  of  a  heathen 
youth  in  Ceylon.  Of  the  sum  named  above,  $340 
were  contributed  at  the  meetings  of  the  monthly 
concert  of  prayer  for  missions.  It  also  appears 
from  the  minutes,  that  more  than  $650,  have  been 
contributed  in  aid  of  home  missions,  probably  not 
less  than  $  700.  In  addition  to  this,  collections  have 
been  taken  annually  for  years,  in  aid  of  the  tract 
cause.  Subscriptions  and  contributions  have  also 
been  taken  for  the  American  Education  Society,  of 
$30  or  $40  a  year,  in  some  instances;  also  for  the 
Bible  Society,  and  some  other  benevolent  objects, 
the  precise  amount  of  which  cannot  be  specified,  as 
the  minutes  have  not  all  been  preserved,  but  is  sup- 
posed to  be  several  hundred,  and  would  increase 
the  amount  above  named,  to  between  three  and  four 
thousand  dollars. 

The  present  pastor  of  this  church,  Rev.  Josiah 
Peet,  was  born  in  Bethlehem,  Connecticut,  June  21, 
1780.  Graduated  at  Middlebury  College,  1808. 
Graduated  at  Theological  Seminary,Andover,  1811. 
Was  employed  as  Principal  of  the  Seminary  at 
Castleton.  Vermont,  1812.  Came  to  Norridgewock, 
October  1S13.     Was  ordained  August,  1814.  * 

*  The  Salary  of  Mr.  Peet,  was  originally  paid  in  part,  by  the  town. 
It  is  now  paid  by  the  church  and  society. 


NORRIDGEWOCK. 


209 


A  Catalogue  of  those  who  have  been  connected  with  the 
Congregational  church  in  Norridgewock,  from  its  organi- 
zation to  the  present  time,  May,  1849,  with,  the  year  of 
admission. 

Admitted  in  1797. 


Moriah  Gould, 
John  Cook, 
Jonathan  Bobbins, 
Miss  Eliza  Robbins, 
David  Pierce, 
Amos  Adams, 
Amos  Adams,  Jr., 
James  Thompson, 
Mrs.  Isabella  Thompson, 
Solomon  Bixby, 
Edmund  Parker, 
Simon  Pierce, 
Abigail  Gilman, 
Josiah  Spaulding, 
Robert  Whitcomb, 
Mrs.  Hannah  Farnham, 


Mrs.  Lucy  Wood, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Warren, 
Mrs.  Olive  Parlin, 
Mrs.  Phebe  Spaulding, 
Mrs.  Lucy  Hale, 
Mrs.  Lucy  Gould, 
Mrs  Keziah  Lindsay, 
Mrs.  Eunice  Moore, 
Patty  Farnsworth, 
Mrs.  Lois  Whitcomb, 
Mrs.  Hannah  Davenport, 
Mrs.  Mary  Witherell, 
Susanna  Wood, 
Eleazar  Spaulding, 
William  Sylvester, 
Zachariah  Longley. 
John  Davenport, 


Mrs.  Susanna  Kidder, 

Mrs.M.  (Farnsworth)  Parker,Perley  Rogers, 

Mrs.  Esther  Richards,  Nathan  Wood, 

Mrs.  Mary  Spaulding,  Mrs.  Lucy  Bixby, 

Mrs.  Olive  Pierce,  Mrs.  Martha  Gilman,  * 

Mrs.  Mary  Parker,  Peter  Gilman, 

*Mrs.  Gilman  is  still  living.  She  reached  upon  the  12th '  day  of 
July,  1849,  her  one  hundredth  birth  day  anniversary,  which  was  appro- 
priately celebrated  by  her  relatives.  Upon  turning  back  to  page  116, 
the  reader  will  perceive,  we  record  her  age  98.  This  was  taken  from 
the  records  of  two  statements  at  the  time  she  received  her  pension. 
If  she  is  now  one  hundred  years  of  age,  the  error  occurred  at  that 
time  probably  from  forgetfulness. 


210 


THE  HISTORY  OF 


Peter  Gilman,  Jr., 
Joseph  Russell, 
Mrs.  Betsey  Russell, 
Edward  Hartwell, 
Mrs.  Hepzibah  Pierce, 

1801. 
Dugal  McPherson, 
Benjamin  Farnham, 
Mrs.  Abigail  Crosby, 
Mrs.  Mary  Hilton, 
Mrs.  Sally  Steward, 
Thomas  Wood, 
Mrs.  Mary  Weston, 
Joseph  Hilton, 
Nathan  Peabody, 
Mrs.  Hannah  Peabody, 
Mrs.  Lucy  Parlin, 
Mrs.  Mary  Sylvester. 

1803. 
Robert  Leathhead, 
Mrs.  Jane  Leathhead, 
Mrs.  Jane  Hilton, 
Mrs.  Anna  Young, 

Mrs. Holding, 

Mrs.  Deborah  Rogers. 

1808. 
Thomas  Hale, 
Ephraim  Lindsay, 
Mrs.  Susan  Witherell, 
Mrs.  Betsey(Parlin)Moreton 
Mrs.  Lydia  Longley, 
Asa  Longley, 


Jo^iah  Warren, 
Mrs.  Turner. 

1811. 
Ezekiel  Hale. 

1814. 
Mrs.  Sarah  Pierce, 
John  Loring, 
Mrs.  Loisa  Loring, 
Samuel  B.  Witherell, 
David  Gilman, 
Mrs.  P.(Witherell)  Sewall, 
Betsey  Davidson. 

1815. 
Didama  Hale, 
Sarah  Rogers, 
Mrs.  Mary  Crombie. 

1816. 
Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Peet. 

1818. 
Alvin  Blackwell, 
Mrs.  Sally  Blackwell, 
Mrs.  Susan  Page. 

1819. 
Jonathan  Bosworth, 
Mrs.  Betsey  Bosworth, 
Benjamin  Longley, 
Mrs.  Lucy  Crosby, 
Mrs.  Jane  (Crosby)Longley, 
John  Boutelle, 
Mrs.  Jane  Boutelle, 
Mrs.  N.  (Sylvester)  Allen, 
Mrs.  Sally  Fletcher, 


NORRIDGEWOCK. 


211 


Simon  Page, 
Dominicus  Mitchell. 
Mrs.  Hannah  Loring, 
Mrs.  L.  (Sylvester)  Kimball, 
David  Shepley. 

1824. 
Samuel  Sylvester, 
Mrs.  Charlotte  Sylvester, 
Mrs.  C.  (Lyman)  Adams. 

1826. 
Mrs.  Susan  Rogers, 
Daniel  Rogers, 
Drummond  Farnsworth, 
John  Haynes, 
Mrs.  S.  (Howe)  Gilman, 
Mrs.  E.  (Harding)  Gilman, 
James  M.  Haynes, 
Mrs.  R.  (Prescott)  Warren, 
James  Bates, 
Niran  Bates 
Alden  Fuller, 

Mrs.  Melinda(Gould)Fuller, 
Mrs.  Hannah  Bickford, 
Mrs.  Eleanor  Bragg, 
Mrs.  M.  (Kidder)Harlow, 
Joshua  Sylvester, 
Mrs.  C.  (Sylvester)Sawtelle, 
Mrs.  S.  (Sylvester)  Brown, 
Mrs.  P.  (Sylvester)  White, 
Mrs.  Rebecca  Wright, 
Ephraim  Farrar, 
Moses  Wood, 
Mrs.  Betsev  Wood, 


Moses  Wood,  Jr., 

Mrs.  Lucy  Pierce, 

Mrs.  Sybil  Wood, 

Mrs.  H.  (Loring)  Paine, 

Mrs.  Mahal  a  Wood, 

Sumner  Bixby, 

Mrs.  P.  H.  (Kidder)  Hale, 

Mrs.  Deborah  Marshall, 

Mrs.  Sally  (Tozier)  Hale, 

Mrs.  P.  (Witherell)  Bartlett. 

1827. 
Mrs.  Sarah  Warren, 
Nathaniel  Warren, 
Sarah  Crosby, 
Eliza  Crosby, 
Mrs.  S.  (Haynes)  Gage, 
Mrs.  Sally  Farrar, 
Mrs.  Almira  (Trask)  Brown, 
Mrs.  Ruth  Jewett, 
Mrs.  S.  (Jewett)  Haynes, 
Mrs.  Achsah  Bixby, 
Mrs  P.(Harding)Philbrook, 
Mrs.  M.  (Burgess)  Buxton. 

1830. 
John  Wood, 
Mrs.  Ann  Wood, 
Mrs  Betsey  Pratt, 
Mrs  Charlotte  Bates, 
William  W.  Dinsmore, 
Mrs.  Lucy  Dinsmore, 
Mrs.  Charity  Baker, 
Abigail  Jones, 
Huldah  Gilmore, 


212 


THE  HISTORY  OF         - 


Sarah  Gilmore, 

Mrs.  L.  (Bixby)  Gilman, 

AmasaBixby, 

Mrs.  F.  (Weston)  Bixby, 

Rufus  Bixby, 

Mrs.  Betsey(Weston)Bixby, 


Mrs.  S.  (Selden)  McCobb, 
Mrs.  Martha  G.  Witherel!, 
Mrs.  S.  (Crosby)  Hale, 
Mrs.  S.  (Bosworth)  Moore, 
Mrs.  S.  H.  (Peet)  Sawtelle 
1836. 


Mrs.  J.(Dinsmore)Danforth,  Eusebius  Hale. 


Betsey  Bixby, 

Mrs.  O.  (Haynes)  Merrill, 

Mrs.  S.  (Wood)  Sylvester, 

Artemas  Wood, 

Diana  Howard, 

Mrs.  H.  (Sawtelle)  Selden, 

Mrs.  Mehitable  Howard, 


1837. 

Loring  Tozier, 
Sophrona  Russell, 
Sandford  K.  Ballard, 
Catharine  F.  Lyman, 
Mrs.  M.  (Selden)  Burgess, 
Mary  Fletcher, 


Mrs.  S.(Longley)Dinsmore,  William  Henry  Peet. 


Jotharn  S.  Bixby, 
Silas  T.  Longley, 
Charles  Loring, 
Edward  J.  Peet. 

1834. 
Reuben  Dinsmore. 

1835. 
Mrs.  Lucy  (Hale)  Bixby, 
Mrs.  Mary  Emerson, 
Mrs.  Susan  Edes, 
Jerusha  Ann  Bickford, 
Meroe    (Sylvester)    Farns- 

worth, 
Sherman  Hale, 
Horatio  N.  Page, 
Mrs.  C.  (Fletcher)  Dole, 
Harriet  Stackpole, 


1839. 

Mrs.  Hannah  Page. 

1843. 
William  H.  Boardman, 
Mrs  Roxana  V.  Boardman, 
Mrs.  Esther  C.  Hale, 
Mrs.  Sarah  (Carlisle)Bixby, 
Seth  Parlin, 
Mrs.  Nancy  T.  Parlin, 
Cephas  Vaughan, 
Solomon  Bixby, 
Ebenezer  Vaughan, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Vaughan, 
Levi  Cutler, 
Mrs.  Margaret  Cutler, 
Mrs.  A.  (Norton)  Cutler, 
Mrs.  Rachel  Emerson. 


NORRIDGEWOCK. 


213 


Albert  M.  Longley,  Mrs.  Mary  (Wood)  Bixby, 

Amos  Bixby,  Mrs.  N.  (Boardman)  Dins- 

1845.  more, 

Amasa  Bixby,  Jr.,  Mrs.  Mehitable  Kidder, 

John  W.  Fletcher,  Augasta  H.  Carlisle, 

Cornelius  Norton,  Caroline  Longley, 

Mrs.  S.  (Burgess)  Norton.  Mary  Herrick  Peet, 

1847.  Amos  Longley, 

Rev.  John  Dodd,  1849. 

Mrs.  Maria  Dodd,  Louisa  Payson  Bixby, 

Charles  Norton,  Mrs.  M.  L.  (Tower)  Jones. 

Mrs.  Sylvester  Norton, 

BAPTIST  CHURCHES. 
At  an  early  period  in  the  settlement  of  this  town,  a 
Baptist  church  was  established  in  Bloqmfield,  in 
which  William  Weston  and  several  others  in  this 
town  united,  and  a  meeting  house  was  built  for 
their  accommodation  in  Bloomfield,  near  the  border 
of  this  town.  No  Baptist  church  was  organized  in 
this  town  till  1819.  In  that  year,  several  members 
who  resided  in  the  upper  part  of  the  town,  met,  and 
after  consultation,  decided  on  the  expediency  of 
being  organized  into  a  distinct  church,  and  called  a 
council  for  that  purpose. 

On  the  28th  September,  1819,  the  council  con- 
vened at  the  place  appointed,  and  Elder  Francis 
Powers  was  chosen  moderator,  and  David  Trask 
clerk. 

After  examining  the  following  persons,  eight  of 
whom  resided  in  Norridgewock  and  two  in  Madison, 
they  were  organized  into  a  Baptist  church  in  Nor- 
ridgewock; to  wit: 

19 


214  THE    HrSTORY    OF 

David  Trask,  Mary  Trask, 

Joseph  Pratt,  Hannah  Washburn, 

Daniel  Mantor,  Lydia  Mantor, 

Mary   Washburn,  Lydia  Trask. 

of  Norridgewock,  and  John  Piper  and  Sarah  Piper, 
of  Madison.  They  were  supplied  with  preaching 
occasionally  by  Elder  Powers,  and  other  preachers 
for  ten  years  or  more,  in  which  time  eight  or  ten 
members  were  added,  part  of  whom  belonged  to 
Madison  and  Starks,  one  or  two  died,  several  remov- 
ed, and  the  remaining  members  who  resided  in  this 
town,  then  transferred  their  connection  to  the  other 
Baptist  church, which  had  been  formed  in  this  town. 
The  members  belonging  to  Madison  and  Starks, 
united  with  the  Baptist  churches  in  those  towns  and 
this  first  church  thus  became  extinct. 

In  July,  1828,  a  council  was  called  for  organizing 
a  Baptist  church  in  the  south-westerly  part  of  the 
town.  The  council  convened,  consisted  of  Elder 
Jonathan  Steward,  Deacons  Thomas  Steward,  Dar- 
cees  Emery,  and  Simeon  Morse,  and  Bro.  Lemuel 
Smith  of  the  Baptist  church  in  Bloomfield ;  Joseph 
Murch,  Samuel  Hilton,  Joseph  Viles  and  Isaiah 
Wood,  of  Anson ;  Elder  Powers,  and  Deacon  Pratt, 
of  Norridgewock ;    Elder  Kilgore  of   Lisbon,   and 

Elder of  Lewiston.     Elder  Francis  Powers 

was  chosen  moderator,  and  Isaiah  Wood,  clerk. 

The  following  persons  appeared  before  the  coun- 
cil, and  after  examination,  were  constituted  a  Bap- 
tist church  in  Norridgewock;  viz.,  Jeremiah  Tuck. 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  215 

Nancy  Tuck,  Ezekiel  Gilman,  Samuel  Kilgore,  Sally 
Kilgore,  John  Cromwell,  Mary  Cromwell,  Jesse  Tay- 
lor, Mary  Taylor, Nehemiah  Preble,  Susannah  Preb- 
le, Betsey  Norton,  Betsey  McKetchnie,  Sally  Black, 
and   Betsey  Merrill.     Fifteen. 

During  the  years  1828  and  1829,  five  other  mem- 
bers were  added  to  the  church.  In  1830,  they  were 
supplied  with  preaching  by  elder  Hooper.  The 
members  who  resided  in  town,  belonging  to  the 
Baptist  Church  which  was  organized  in  1819,  hav- 
ing united  with  this  church.  Joseph  Pratt  was 
chosen  deacon,  and  two  members  added  to  the 
church. 

In  1831,  they  enjoyed  the  labors  of  Elder  Datus 
T.  Allen,  and  received  an  addition  of  six  members. 

In  1832,  they  were  supplied  with  preaching  by 
Elders  Boardman,  Steward  and  Glover.  Eleven 
were  received  into  the  church,  and  two  dismissed. 
In  1833,  nine  were  added.  In  1836,  four  were  ex- 
cluded. In  1837,  Elder  Cross  labored  with  them 
some  portion  of  the  time.  In  1838,  Elder  Gold- 
thwait  was  employed,  and  preached  with  them  part 
of  the  time  till  1842.  During  the  two  first  years, 
six  were  added,  and  during  the  last  two  years, 
twelve  were  received  and  one  dismissed. 

In  1842,  the  members  of  this  church  who  resided 
in  the  vicinity  of  Oak  Hill,  in  the  south-west  corner 
of  the  town,  having  erected  a  meeting  house  for 
their  accommodation,  deemed  it  expedient  to  have 
a  separate  organization,  and  at  their  request  a  coun- 
cil was  called  for  the  purpose,    consisting  of  Rev. 


216  THE   HISTORY    OF 

Sylvanus  Boardman  and  Rev.  Mr.  N.  M.  Williams 
of  New  Sharon,  Rev.  Datus  F.  Allen  of  Industry, 
Rev.  D.  P.  Bailey  of  Cornville,  Dea.  Gilmore  of 
Starks,  and  Bros.  Russell,  Philbrook  and  J.  Emery 
of  Bloomfield. 

Rev.  S.  Boardman  was  chosen  moderator,  and 
Jesse  Taylor,  clerk.  A  church  was  then  duly  or- 
ganized, January  14,  1842,  consisting  of  fourteen 
members  who  were  dismissed  and  taken  from  the 
Baptist  Church  of  Norridgewock,  and  called  the 
Baptist  church  of  Oak  Hill,  in  Norridgewock. 
John  Cromwell  and  Orrin  Tinkham  were  chosen 
deacons.  This  church  has  been  supplied  with 
preaching  from  one  fourth  to  one  half  of  the  time 
since  it  was  organized,  Rev.  W.  E.  Morse  and  Rev. 
Isaac  Merrill,  to  1848.  During  this  period  of  seven 
years,  twenty  have  been  added  to  the  church,  four 
have  died,  and  three  have  been  dismissed.  The 
present  number  is  twenty-nine,  several  of  whom 
have  been  added*,  under  the  revival  during  the 
winter  of  1849. 

In  1842,  the  Baptist  church  in  Norridgewock  was 
supplied  with  preaching  by  Elder  Arthur  Drink- 
water  one  half  the  time,  and  he  continued  to  labor 
with  them  till  1845. 

In  1845,  Elder  Stevens  supplied  them  one  fourth 
part  of  the  time  for  a  year,  and  nine  members  were 
added. 

In  1846,  Elder  Isaac  Merrill  moved  into  the  place 
and  was  employed  by  the  church  to  preach  one  half 
the  time,  till  1849,  preaching  most  of  the  other  half 


NORRIDGEWOCK. 


217 


of  the  time  at  Oak  Hill.  During  this  time,  ten  were 
received  and  one  excluded.  Since  the  year  1849 
commenced,  they  have  been  supplied  by  Elder 
Coburn,  Elder  Morse,  Elder  Kelley  and  Elder 
Hinkley,  and  six  members  have  been  added  to  the 
church  during  the  first  three  months  of  the  year. 

The  whole  number  connected  with  the  church 
since  it  was  first  organized  is  ninety-two  ;  thirty- 
nine  have  been  admitted  by  baptism,  and  thirty- 
eight  by  letter.  Seventeen  have  been  dismissed  to 
sister  churches,  and  six  have  deen  excluded  ;  several 
have  been  removed  by  death,  leaving  the  present 
number  about  forty-five. 

The  church,  in  connection  with  the  Methodists 
and  Freewill  Baptists,  built  them  a  convenient 
meeting  house  in  1843,  which  was  dedicated  on  the 
first  day  of  January,  1844.  Sermon  by  Elder 
Drinkwater.  More  than  half  of  the  house  is  owned 
by  this  church,  one  quarter  part  is  owned  by  the 
Methodists,  and  the  Freewill  Baptists  own  one 
eighth;  and  is  occupied  by  the  three  denominations 
according  to  their  interest.  The  Freewill  Baptists, 
however,  have  been  permitted  to  occupy  the  house 
every  fourth  sabbath. 

Members  of  the  Baptist  church  in  Norridgewock, 
from  its  first  organization. 

Males.  Levi  Powers, 

Jeremiah  Tuck,  Albert  P.  Warren, 

Ezekiel  Gilman,  Whitmore  Gilman, 

Samuel  Kilgore,  Albert  Ross, 

John  Cromwell,  Alonzo  Taylor, 

19* 


218 


THE    HISTORY    OF 


Jesse  Taylor, 
John  McKetchnie, 
Jonathan  Mitchel, 
Rufus  J.  Woodard, 
Joseph  Pratt, 
Eliphalet  Lane, 
Edward  Jones, 
Moses  Watson, 
Daniel  Mantor, 
William  Johnson, 
Joseph  Lawrence, 
Josiah  Butler, 
Joseph  Gilman, 
Augustine  Cromwell, 
Nathaniel  Taylor, 
Jeremiah  Hartford, 
Thomas  Merrill, 
Hiram  Willey, 
Dimon  Taylor, 
Aaron  C.  Bigelow, 
Thomas  Preble, 
John  Sylvester, 
George  B.  Weston, 
John  Cleaves, 
Reuben  Robbins, 
Owen  Tinkham, 
John  C.  Jewett, 
Israel  Taylor, 
Orvil  Tinkham, 
Granvill  Tinkham, 
Sharington  Perkins, 
Osman  Taylor. 


Females. 
Mary  Adams, 
Electa  Butler, 
Mary  Warren, 
Elizabeth  Kilgore, 
Phebe  Taylor, 
Nancy  Tuck, 
Sally  Kilgore, 
Mary  Cromwell, 
Mary  Taylor, 
Susanna  Preble, 
Betsey  McKetchnie, 
Sally  Black, 
Betsey  Merrill, 
Mary  Bowden, 
Hannah  Norton, 
Lydia  Lane, 
Mrs.  Mary  Trask, 
Mary  Trask, 
Rachel  Watson, 
Lydia  Mantor, 
Sally  Johnson, 
Sarah  Johnson, 
Hannah  Washburn, 
Mary  E.  Lawrence, 
Cynthia  H.  Mason, 
Mary  Gray, 
Lucy  Gilman, 
Judith^Longley, 
Love  Cottle, 
Elizabeth  Merrill, 
Betsey  Taylor. 


NORRIDGEWOCK. 


219 


Rosilla  Dudley, 
Olive  Taylor, 
Mary  Taylor, 
Jane  Robbins, 
Julia  Works, 
Hannah  Taylor, 
Phebe  Weston, 
Martha  Wood, 
Betsey  Sylvester, 
Emily  Powers, 
Abigail  Weston, 
Mary  Goldthwait, 
Lucinda  Bigelow, 
Louisa  P.  Waugh, 
Achsah  Tinkham, 
Olive  Taylor, 
Mary  Cleaves, 
Nancy  Jewett, 
Abigail  Judkins, 
Lydia  Mclntire, 
Abigail  H.  Weston, 
Sarah  Wheeler, 
Clarisa  Loring, 
Paulina  Freeman, 


Ruth  Taylor, 
Sarah  Taylor, 
Charlotte  Robbins, 
Temperance  Cross, 
Cynthia  Bates, 
Julia  Ann  Taylor, 
Martha  Taylor, 
Martha  Jane  Taylor, 
Nancy  Ross, 
Sarah  Ross. 
Sarah  E.  Taylor, 
Emeline  Taylor, 
Mrs.  Hartford, 
Julia  Ann  Tinkham, 
Mary  Ann  Tinkham, 
Mrs.  Gray, 
Clarinda  Tinkham, 
Mary  Perkins, 
Mrs.  Tinkham. 
Martha  Dunlap, 
Mrs.  Bell, 
Mrs.  Walton, 
Harriet  Dudley, 
Huldala  Tinkham. 


FEEE-WILL  BAPTIST  CHUECH. 

A  few  members  in  this  town  united  with  a  larger 
number  in  Bloomfield  and  Fairfield,  about  the  year 
1820,  and  were  organized  into  a  church,  by  the 
name  of  the  Bloomfield  and  Fairfield  church  of 
Free-Will  Baptists,  and  attended  their  meetings 
generally  in  those  towns  occasionally  having  preach- 


THE    HISTORY    OF 


ing  in  this  town  till  1829.  During  that  year  there 
was  a  revival  under  the  preaching  of  Eider  C.  Stil- 
son,  and  ten  members,  chiefly  of  this  town,  were 
added  to  the  church  by  baptism.  Whereupon,  in 
the  close  of  the  year  1829,  and  commencement  of 
1830,  at  the  request  of  the  members  residing  in  this 
town,  they  were  dismissed  and  formed  a  church  in 
this  town,  which  was  duly  organized  by  the  name  of 
the  Free-Will  Baptist  Church  in  Norridgewock,  con- 
sisting of  twelve  members,  and  three  others  were 
added  by  baptism  that  year.  In  1832,  eight  were  add- 
ed by  baptism,  and  three  by  letter.  In  1834,  one  was 
added,  and  in  1835,  one.  During  the  first  six  years 
after  the  church  was  organized  in  this  town,  they 
had  no  stated  preaching,  but  had  preaching  occa- 
sionally by  Elders  Stilson,  Colcord,  Leach  and  oth- 
ers, as  they  traveled  from  place  to  place.  Having 
no  house  of  worship,  they  usually  held  their  meet- 
ings in  school  houses. 

In  1836,  Elder  Samuel  Hutchins  settled  in  this 
town,  united  with  this  church,  and  preached  in  the 
town  about  one  half  of  the  time  for  seven  years, 
preaching  the  other  half  of  the  time  in  Smithfield, 
and  other  places.  During  the  first  year  of  his  min- 
istry, three  were  added  to  the  church  ;  in  1837,  five ; 
in  1838,  three ;  in  1839,  three ;  in  1840,  six ;  in 
1841,  eight;  1842,  one. 

In  1843,  there  was  a  revival  under  the  preaching 
of  Elder  Abel  Turner,  and  six  were  added  by  bap- 
tism ;  in  1845  three  were  added  by  letter,  making 
eighty-eight  members  who  have  beenconnected  with 


NORRIDGEWOCK. 

this  church  during  the  last  twenty  years.  In  which 
time  many  have  died ;  some  have  taken  letters  of 
commendation  to  other  churches  ;  others  have  gone 
away  without  taking  letter,  and  have  been  droped 
from  the  church  records,  and  some  have  been  exclud- 
ed, so  that  the  whole  number  in  March  1849,  is  but 
thirty-two. 

Elder  Hutchins  removed  to  Belgrade  in  1843, 
and  since  that  time  the  church^has  had  preaching 
but  one  quarter  of  the  time;  In  1843,  by  Elder 
Turner;  then  by  Elder  Harding,  part  of  three  years, 
and  in  1847  and  1848  by  Elder  Wheeler  and  others. 

Rev.  Stephen  Bowden  of  this  town  has  been  or- 
dained as  a  preacher  of  this  denomination,  and  is 
esteemed  and  respected  by  his  christian  friends. 

Members. 

Stephen  Bowden,  Mary  Brooks, 

Josiah  Tarbell,  Eunice  Robinson, 

Josiah  W.  Tarbell,  William  Tobey, 

Sophia  Tarbell,  Beltiah  Oliver, 

Isabela  Otis,  Lyman  Perry, 

Catharine  Bump,  Motherwill  Preble, 

Nathaniel  M.  Stevens,  Samuel  Hutchins, 

Betsey  Stevens,  Nehemiah  Preble, 

Thomas  Greenleaf,  Thomas  Preble, 

Mary  Greenleaf,  Mary  James, 

Caroline  Bowden,  Nancy  Trafton, 

Ruth  Tobey,  John  Taylor, 

Sewall  Bowden,  John  H.  Taylor, 

Levi  Preble,  Susan  Bickford, 

Phimela  Bowden,  Thomas  Taylor, 


222 


THE    HISTORY    OF 


Susan  Smart, 
Olive  Bowden, 
Thankful  Bowden, 
Rufus  Pishon,  ] 
Betsey  Huff, 
Hannah  Davis, 
Lucy  Davis, 
Henry  Bickford, 
Hannah  Bickford, 
Henry  Preble, 
Aaron  Bickford, 
Warren  Preble, 
Thomas  Norton, 
Joseph  F.  Norton, 
Rosilla  Preble, 
Charles  H.  Smart, 


Sarah  Savage, 
Betsey  Perry, 
Hannah  Jones, 
Lucy  McMahan, 
Nancy  Savage, 
Beniah  Savage, 
Levi  O.  Savage, 
Narcissa  Wadleigh, 
Ira  Loring, 
Betsey  Loring, 
Eben.  M.  Coffin, 
Harriet  Robinson, 
Eliza  Tobey, 
Mary  Stanley, 
Data  H.  Emerson, 
Lucy  Jane  Johnson, 
Eliza  Pomrov. 


CHKISTIANS. 

A  small  society  of  Christians,  differing  in  some 
matters  from  the  order  of  the  Free-Will  Baptists, 
was  formed  in  the  north  part  of  this  town  as  early 
as  1820,  and  have  continued  to  keep  up  their  organ- 
ization, distinct  from  the  Free-will  Baptists,  The 
number  has  never  exceeded  twelve.  They  cordially 
unite -with  the  Free-will  Baptists  in  their  religious 
meetings.  Rev.  James  P.  Longley  of  this  town  is  an 
ordained  preacher  of  this  order,  and-  devotes  the 
most  of  his  time  to  his  profession  as  a  missionary. 
He  is  circumspect  and  examplary  in  his  life  and 
conversation,  and  a  man  of  good  mind. 


NORRIDGEWOCK. 


223 


UNITARIANS. 

In  1825,  after  Unitarianism  had  extended  into 
Maine,  and  churches  were  formed  and  ministers 
settled  in  Hallowell  and  Augusta,  a  number  of  indi- 
viduals in  this  town,  on  becoming  acquainted  with 
the  Unitarian  doctrines,  were  desirous  to  have  the 
system  introduced  into  this  place  ;  they  accordingly 
during  the  summer  of  that  year  raised  a  subscription 
and  employed  Rev.  Mr.  Fessenden,  a  Unitarian  min- 
ister to  preach  with  them  several  months.  Their 
meetings  were  held  in  the  court-house.     . 

In  the  autumn  their  subscription  being  exhausted, 
their  meetings  were  suspended  during  the  winter, 
to  be  resumed  in  the  spring.  Meantime  they  made 
arrangements  for  securing  a  more  permanent  supply. 
In  the  spring  of  1826,  Rev.  Samuel  Brimblecomb 
was  obtained,  with  the  understanding  that  he  was 
to  labor  with  them  three  years;  but  not  feeling  able 
to  sustain  him  the  whole  time,  his  supporters  allow- 
ed him  to  preach  one  third  of  the  year  elsewhere  ; 
and  he  was  employed  that  portion  of  the  time  in 
Athens. 

Some  time  in  1827,  a  Unitarian  church  was  form- 
ed in  Norridgewock,  consisting  of  five  members, 
four  of  whom  were  previously  members  of  Unitari- 
an churches  in  other  places.  On  raising  their  sub- 
scription the  second  year,  some  of  the  original  sub- 
scribers having  left  them  and  united  with  the  Con- 
gregational church;  the  Universalists  who  had  con- 
tributed to  the  support  of  Mr.  Brimblecomb  and 
attended   his  meetings,  concluded  that  what  they 


224  THE    HISTORY    OF 

could  raise  should  be  appropriated  to  hire  preaching 
of  their  own  order.  They  accordingly  employed 
Rev.  Sylvanus  Cobb,  a  Universalist,  to  preach  in 
the  Court  House  in  the  absence  of  Mr.  Brimblecomb 
that  season.  This  step  diminished  the  subscription 
for  the  support  of  Mr.  Brimblecomb,  who  remon- 
strated and  thought  it  unnecessary  to  employ  Mr. 
Cobb,  inasmuch  as  he  believed  and  could  preach  the 
same  doctrine,  and  hence  thought  the  Universalists 
might  co-operate  with  the  Unitarians  in  supporting 
him.  Daring  the  year  he  attended  a  Universalist 
Convention  at  Read  field,  and  preached  a  sermon 
before  that  body,  in  which  he  avowed  fully  his  be- 
lief in  the  doctrines  of  Universalism.  But  he  did 
not  acquire  at  that  time  the  confidence  of  the  Uni- 
versalists :  neither  did  the  Unitarians  approve  of 
his  course.  He  therefore,  left  this  place  before  the 
period  of  his  engagement  expired  ;  was  afterwards 
employed  as  a  principal  in  a  Universalist  Seminary 
in  Westbrook. 

Not  long  after  Mr.  Brimblecomb  left,  Rev.  Mr. 
Beede,  who  had  been  preaching  to  a  Unitarian  So- 
ciety in  Eastport,  was  employed  to  preach  in  this 
place  for  a  season. 

No  Unitarian  preacher  has  been  employed  to 
preach  in  this  place  since  Mr.  Beede  left  in  1829. 
When  Mr.  Brimblecomb  removed  from  the  place, 
there  were  but  two  members  of  the  church,  and  one 
of  them  removed  some  years  after,  which  left  but 
one  remaining  member. 


m 


NORRIDGEWOCK.  225 

UNIVERSALISTS. 

About  the  year  1815,  Charles  Pierce,  who  had 
been  living  in  Bingham,  and  who  had  formerly  lived 
in  this  town,  removed  to  this  place  and  avowed 
himself  a  Universalist.  This  was  the  first  public 
avowal  of  Universalism  in  this~town.  He  was  soon 
joined  by  several  others,  and  after  a  few  years,  they 
established  regular  meetings  in  this  town  and  at 
East  Pond  Plantation,  and  Calvin  Heald,  Esq.  of 
this  town,  was  designated  as  a  leader  of  their  meet- 
ings, and  he  occasionally  preached  to  them  for  a 
year  or  two.  In  1827,  Rev.  Sylvanus  Cobb  was 
employed  a  part  of  the  time  as  has  been  stated,  and 
others  were  employed  occasionally  for  several  years. 
Rev.  Darius  Forbes  was  employed  regularly  for  one 
half  of  the  time  during  three  or  four  years.  Whe» 
he  left,  Rev.  R.  Blacker  was  employed  in  1842  and 
'3,  a  part  of  the  time.  Since  1843,  they  have  had  no 
stated  preaching  till  the  latter  part  of  1848;  but  they 
had  preaching  occasionally  by  Rev.  Mr.  Gardner  of 
Waterville;  Rev.  Mr.  Drew  of  Augusta;  Rev.  Mr. 
Gunnison  of  Hallowell ;  Rev.  Mr.  Bates  of  Turner, 
and  others. 

In  the  fall  of  1848,  Rev.  John  W.  Hanson  remov- 
ed into  this  town  and  commenced  preaching  at  the 
court-house  one  half  of  the  time ;  preaching  occa- 
sionally at  other  places  in  the  town  and  in  the 
vicinity. 

The  meetings  of  this  denomination  are  said  to  be 
well  attended.  What  proportion  of  those  who  listen  to 
20 


226  THE    HISTORY   OF   NORRIDGEWOCK. 

the  preaching  are  professed  Universal ists,  we  have 
no  means  of  ascertaining,  as  no  organized  church  of 
this  denomination  has  ever  existed  in  town. 


To  the  credit  of  the  town,  it  may  be  recorded, 
that  the  inhabitants  as  a  majority,  from  the  first  set- 
tlement of  the  town  to  the  present  time,  have  ever 
manifested  a  commendable,  degree  of  respect  for  the 
institutions  of  religion,  the  ordinances  of  the  gospel, 
and  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  &c. ;  the  silent,  yet 
truthful  operation  of  which  influence,  is  now  visi- 
ble, not  only  in  every  department  of  social  life,  but 
also  in  that  of  a  quiet,  orderly,  enterprising  and 
intellegent  population. 


APPENDIX 


CORRESPONDENCE  OF  SEBASTIAN  RASLES*  AND  REMINIS- 
l  CENCES  OF  "INDIAN  OLD  POINT,"  NORRIDGEWOCK. 

A  collection  of  thirty-four  volumes  of  "  Lettres 
Edifiantes  et  Curienses,  ecrites  des  Missions  Etran- 
geres,"  have  been  published  in  France.  Two  of 
these  edifying  and  curious  letters"  were  written  by 
Father  Rasles,  in  which  he  gives  a  full  account  of 
his  missionary  labors  among  the  Indians.  The  let- 
ters written  by  the  Catholic  Missionaries  in  our  own 
country,  have  been  translated  from  the  French  by 
Rev.  W.  J.  Kip,  and  published  under  the  title  of 
"  Early  Jesuit  Missions  in  North  America." 

The  first  letter  of  Rasles  is  addressed  to  his 
nephew,  dated  at  Nanrantsouak,  Indian  name  for 
Norridgewock,    Oct.  15,    1722 — in  which  he  says  : 

The  village  in  which  I  live  is  called  Nanrantsouak,  and 
is  situated  on  the  banks  of  a  river  which  empties  into  the  sea,  at 
the  distance  of  thirty  leagues  below.  I  have  erected  a  Church 
there,  which  is  neat  and  elegantly  ornamented.  I  have  indeed, 
thought  ft  my  duty  to  spare  nothing  either  in  the  decoration  of 
the  building  itself,  or  in  the  beauty  of  those  articles  which  are 
used  in  our  holy  ceremonies.     Vestments,  chasubles,  copes,  and 

*The  name  is  spelt  Rasles,  Rasle,  Ralle  and  Rale  by  different  writers. 
We  have  followed  the  orthography  in  the  original  "  Letters." 


228  APPENDIX. 

holy  vessels,  all  are  highly  appropriate,  and  would  be  esteemed 
so  even  in  our  Churches  in  Europe.  I  have  also  formed  a  little 
choir  of  about  forty  young  Indians,  who  assist  at  Divine  Service 
in  cassocks  and  surplices.  They  have  each  their  own  appropri- 
ate functions,  as  much  to  serve  in  the  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass, 
as  to  chant  the  Divine  Offices  for  the  consecration  of  the  Holy 
Sacrament,  and  for  the  processions  which  they  make  with  great 
crowds  of  Indians,  who  often  come  from  a  long  distance  to  en- 
gage in  these  exercises  ;  and  you  would  be  edified  by  the  beau- 
tiful order  they  observe  and  the  devotion  they  show. 

They  have  built  two  Chapels  at  three  hundred  paces  distance 
from  the  villiage  ;  the  one,  which  is  dedicated  to  the  Holy  Vir- 
gin, and  where  can  be  seen  her  image  in  relief,  is  above,  on  the 
river  ;  the  other,  which  is  dedicated  to  the  Guardian  Angel,  is 
below,  on  the  same  river.  As  they  are  both  on  the  road  which 
leads  either  into  the  woods  or  into  the  fields,  the  Indians  can 
never  pass  without  offering  up  their  prayers.  There  is  a  holy 
emulation  among  the  females  of  the  village,  as  to  who  shall  most 
ornament  the  Chapel  of  which  they  have  care,  when  the  proces- 
sion is  to  take  place  there  ;  all  who  have  any  jewelry,  or  pieces 
of  silk  or  calico,  or  other  things  of  that  kind,  employ  them  to 
adorn  it. 

The  great  blaze  of  light  contributes  not  a  little  to  the  beauty 
of  the  church  and  of  the  chapels  ;  it  is  not  necessary  for  me  to 
be  saving  of  the  wax,  for  the  country  itself  furnishes  it  abund- 
antly. The  islands  of  the  sea  are  bordered  by  a  kind  of  wild 
laurel,  which  in  autumn  produces  a  berry,  a  little  like  that  borne 
by  the  juniper.  They  fill  their  kettles  with  these  and  boil  them 
with  water.  In  proportion  as  the  water  thickens,  the  green  wax 
rises  to  the  surface,  where  it  remains.  From  a  measure  of  about 
three  bushels  of  this  berry,  can  be  made  almost  four  pounds  of 
wax.  It  is  very  pure  and  beautiful,  but  neither  sweet  nor  plia- 
ble. After  several  trials,  I  have  found,  that  by  mingling  with  it 
an  equal  quantity  of  fat,  either  of  beef  or  mutton,  or  of  the  elk, 
beautiful  tapers  can  be  made,  firm  and  excellent  for  use.  With 
twenty-four  pounds  of  wax,  and  as  much  of  fat,  can  be  mad  e 


APPENDIX.  229 

two  hundred  tapers  of  more  than  a  foot  in  length.  A  vast  quan- 
tity of  these  laurels  are  found  on  the  islands  and  on  the  borders 
of  the  sea  ;  so  that  one  person  in  a  day  can  easily  gather  four 
measures,  or  twelve  bushels  of  the  berry.  It  hangs  down  like 
grapes  from  the  branches  of  the  tree.  I  have  sent  one  branch  of 
it  to  Quebec,  together  with  a  cake  of  the  wax,  and  it  has  been 
found  to  be  very  excellent. 

None  of  my  neophytes  fail  to  repair  twice  in  each  day  to  the 
Church,  early  in  the  morning  to  hear  Mass,  and  in  the  evening 
to  assist  at  the  prayers  which  I  offer  up  at  sunset.  As  it  is 
necessary  to  fix  the  imagination  of  these  Indians,  which  is  too 
easily  distracted,  I  have  composed  some  appropriate  prayers  for 
them  to  make,  to  enable  them  to  enter  into  the  spirit  of  the  au- 
gust sacrifice]bf  our  altars.  They  chant  them,  or  else  recite  them 
in  a  loud  voice  during  Mass. 

Besides  the  sermons,  which  I  deliver  before  them  on  Sundays 
and  festival-days,  I  scarcely  pass  a  week-day,  without  making  a 
short  exhortation  to  inspire  them  with  a  horror  of  those  vices  to 
which  they  are  most  addicted,  or  to  strengthen  them  in  the  prac- 
tice of  some  virtue. 

After  the  Mass,  I  teach  the  catechism  to  the  children  and 
young  persons,  while  a  large  number  of  aged  people  who  are 
present,  assist  and  answer  with  perfect  docility  the  questions 
which  I  put  to  them.  The  rest  of  the  morning,  even  to  mid-day 
is  set  apart  for  seeing  those  who  wish  to  speak  with  me.  They 
come  to  me,  in  crowds,  to  make  me  a  participator  in  their  pains 
and  inquietudes,  or  to  communicate  to  me  causes  of  complaint 
against  their  countrymen,  or  to  consult  me  on  their  marriages 
and  other  affairs  of  importance.  It  is,  therefore,  necessary  for 
me  to  instruct  some,  to  console  others,  to  re-establish  peace  in 
families  at  variance,  to  calm  troubled  consciences,  to  correct 
others  by  reprimands  mingled  with  softness  and  charity  ;  in 
fine,  as  far  as  possible,  to  render  them  all  contented. 

After  mid-day,  I  visit  the  sick  and  go  round  among  the  cabins 
of  those  owh  require  more  particular  instructions.     If  they 
hold  a  council,  which  is  often  the  case -with  these  Indians,  they 
20* 


230  APPENDIX. 

depute  one  of  their  principal  men  of  the  assembly  to  ask  me  to 
assist  in  their  deliberations.  I  accordingly  repair  to  the  place 
where  their  council  is  held.  If  I  think  they  are  pursuing  a 
wise  course,  I  approve  of  it :  if  on  the  contrary,  I  have  any 
thing  to  say  in  opposition  to  their  decision ;  I  declare  my  senti- 
ments supporting  them  by  weighty  reasons,  to  which  they  con- 
form. My  advice  always  fixes  their  resolutions.  They  do  not 
even  hold  their  feasts  without  inviting  me.  Those  who  have 
been  asked,  carry  each  one  a  dish  of  wood  or  bark,  to  the  place 
of  entertainment.  I  give  the  benediction  on  the  food,  and 
they  place  in  each  dish  the  portion  which  has  been  prepared. 
After  this  distribution  has  been  made,  I  say  grace,  and  each  one 
retires  ;  for  such  is  the  order  and  usage  of  their  feasts. 

In  the  midst  of  such  continued  occupations,  you  cannot  imag- 
ine with  what  rapidity  the  days  pass  by.  There  have  been 
seasons,  when  I  scarcely  had  time  to  recite  my  office,  or  to  take 
a  little  repose  during  the  night ;  for  discretion  is  not  a  virtue 
which  particularly  belongs  to  the  Indians.  But  for  some  years 
past  I  have  made  it  a  rule,  not  to  speak  with  any  person  from  the 
prayers  in  the  evening  until  the  time  of  Mass  on  the  next  morn- 
ing. I  have  therefore  forbidden  them  to  interrupt  me  during 
this  period,  except  for  some  very  important  reason,  as  for  exam- 
ple, to  assist  a  person  who  is  dying,  or  some  other  affair  of  the 
kind,  which  it  is  impossible  to  put  off.  I  set  apart  this  time  to 
spend  in  prayer  or  to  repose  myself  from  the  fatigues  of  the  day. 
When  the  Indians  repair  to  the  sea  shore,  where  they  pass 
some  months,  in  hunting  the  ducks  and  other  birds,  which  are 
found  there  in  large  numbers,  they  build  on  an  island  a  church, 
which  they  cover  with  bark,  and  near  it  they  erect  a  little  cabin 
for  my  residence.  I  take  care  to  transport  thither  a  part  of  our 
ornaments,  and  the  service  is  performed  with  the  same  decency, 
and  the  same  crowds  of  people  as  at  the  village. 

You  see  then,  my  dear  nephew,  what  are  my  occupations. 
For  that  which  relates  to  me  personally,  I  will  say  to  you,  that  I 
neither  hear,  nor  see,  nor  speak  to  any  but  the  Indians.  My 
food  is  very  6imple  and  light.    I  have  never  been  able  to  con- 


APPENDIX.  231 

form  my  taste  to  the  meat  or  the  smoked  fish  of  the  savages,  and 
my  nourishment  is  only  composed  of  corn,  which  they  pound  and 
of  which  I  make  each  day  a  kind  of  hominy,  which  I  boil  in  wa- 
ter. The  only  luxury  in  which  I  indulge,  is  a  little  sugar ,which 
I  mix  with  it  to  correct  its  insipidity.  This  is  now  wanting  in 
the  forest.  In  the  spring  the  maple  trees  contain  a  liquor  very 
similar  to  that  which  is  found  in  the  sugar-canes  of  the  southern 
islands.  The  women  employ  themselves  in  collecting  this  in 
vessels  of  bark  as  it  is  distilled  from  the  trees.  They  then  boil 
it  and  draw  off  from  it  a  very  good  sugar.  That  which  is  drawn 
oif  first  is  the  most  beautiful. 

The  whole  nation  of  the  Abnakis  is  Christian,  and  very  zeal- 
ous to  preserve  their  religion.  This  attachment  to  the  Catholic 
faith,  has  induced  them,  even  to  this  time,  to  prefer  our  alliance 
to  advantages  which  might  be  derived  from  an  alliance  with  the 
English  who  are  their  neighbors.  These  advantages,  too,  of  very 
great  importance  to  the  Indians.  The  facility  of  trading  with 
the  English,  from  whom  they  are  distant,  but  one  or  two  day's 
journey  ;  the  ease  with  which  the  journey  can  be  made,  the  ad- 
mirable market  they  would  find  there  for  the  purchase  of  the 
merchandize  that  suits  them ;  these  things  certainly  hold  out 
very  great  inducements.  In  place  of  which,  in  going  to  Quebec, 
it  is  necessary  to  take  more  than  a  fortnight  to  reach  there,they 
have  to  furnish  themselves  with  provisions  for  the  journey,  they 
have  different  rivers  to  pass  and  frequent  portages  to  make. 
They  are  aware  of  these  inconveniences,  and  are  by  no  means 
indifferent  to  their  interests,  but  their  faith  is  infinitely  more 
dear  to  them ;  and  they  believe  that  if  they  detach  themselves 
from  our  alliance,  they  will  shortly  find  themselves,  without  a 
missionary,  without  a  sacrifice,  with  scarcely  any  exercise  of 
their  religion,  and  in  manifest  danger  of  being  replunged  into 
their  former  heathenism.  This  is  the  bond  which  unites  them 
to  the  French. 


232  APPENDIX. 

He  gives  also  the  following  account  of  the  attempt 
made  by  the  English  to  take  him  prisoner  in  Jan. 
1712: 

"  I  had  remained  alone  in  the  village,  with  only  a  small  num- 
ber of  old  men  and  infirm  persons,  while  the  rest  of  the  Indians 
were  at  the  hunting  grounds.  The  opportunity  seemed  to  them 
a  favorable  one  to  surprise  me,  and  with  this  view  they  sent  out 
a  detachment  of  two  hundred  men.*  Two  young  Abnakis,who 
were  engaged  in  the  chase  along  the  sea-shore,  learned  that  the 
English  had  entered  the  river,  and  they  immediately  turned 
their  steps  in  that  direction  to  observe  their  progress.  Having 
perceived  them  at  ten  leagues  distance  from  the  village,  they 
out-stripped  them  in  traversing  the  country  to  give  me  warning 
and  to  cause  the  old  men,  females  and  infants  to  retire  in  haste. 
I  had  barely  time  to  swallow  the  consecrated  wafers,  to  crowd 
the  sacred  vessels  into  a  little  chest,  and  to  save  myself  in  the 
woods.  The  English  arrived  in  the  evening  at  the  village,  and 
not  having  found  me,  came  the  following  morning  to  search  for 
me,  even  in  the  very  place  to  which  we  had  retreated.  They 
were  scarcely  a  gun-shot  distant  when  we  perceived  them,  and 
all  I  could  do  was  to  hide  myself  with  precipitation  in  the 
depths  of  the  forest.  But  as  I  had  not  time  to  take  my  snow 
shoes,  and  besides  had  considerable  weakness  remaining  from  a 
fall  which  took  place  some  years  before,  when  my  thigh  and  leg 
were  broken,  it  was  not  possible  for  me  to  fly  very  far.  The 
only  resource  which  remained  to  me  was  to  conceal  myself  be- 
hind a  tree.  They  began  immediately  to  examine  the  different 
paths  worn  by  the  Indians,  when  they  went  to  collect  wood,  and 
they  penetrated  even  to  within  eight  paces  of  the  tree  which 
concealed  me.  From  this  spot  it  would  seem  as  if  they  must 
inevitably  discover  me;  for  the  trees  were  stripped  of  their  leaves; 
but  as  if  they  had  been  restrained  by  an  invisible  hand,  they 

*Col.  Westbrook's  expedition. 


APPENDIX. 


233 


immediately  retraced  their  steps,  and  repaired  again  to  the 
village. 

It  is  thus  that  through  the  particular  protection  of  God,  I  es- 
caped from  their  hands.  They  pillaged  my  church  and  humble 
dwelling  *  and  thus  reduced  me  almost  to  death  by  famine  in 
the  midst  of  the  woods.  It  is  true,  that  as  soon  as  they  learned 
my  adventure  in  Quebec,  they  immediately  sent  me  provisions ; 
but  these  could  not  arrive  till  very  late,  and  during  all  that  time 
I  was  obliged  to  live  destitute  of  all  succor,  and  in  extreme  need. 

The  second  letter  of  Rasles,  is  written  to  his 
brother,  dated  at  Nanrantsouak,  Oct.  18,  1723;  in 
which  he  gives  a  full  and  minute  account  of  his 
journeys  among  the  Indians,  the  manners,  customs, 
language  and  superstitions  of  the  different  tribes,  and 
the  following  history  of  the  Norridgewocks,  which 
differs  widely  from  the  statements  of  English  writ- 
ers and  official  documents  that  are  still  preserved. 
"  This  mission  is  about  twenty-four  leagues  distant  from  Penta- 
gouet,  and  they  reckon  it  to  be  an  hundred  leagues  from  Penta- 
gouet  to  Port  Royal.  The  river  which  flows  through  my  mission, 
is  the  largest  of  all  those  which  water  the  territories  of  the 
Indians.  It  should  be  marked  on  the  maps  by  the  name  of 
Kinibeki ;  and  it  is  this  which  has  induced  the  French  to  give 
these  Indians  the  name  of  Kanibals.  This  river  empties  into  the 
sea  at  Sankderank,  which  is  only  five  or  six  leagues  from 
Pemaquit.  After  having  ascended  forty  Leagues  from  Sank- 
derank, you  arrive  at  my  village,  which  is  on  the  height  of  a 
point  of  land.  We  are,  at  the  most,  distant  only  two  days  jour- 
ney from  the  English  settlements,  while  it  takes  us  more  than  a 
fortnight  to  reach  Quebec,  and  the  journey  is  very  painful  and 
difficult.  It  would  therefore  be  natural  that  our  Indians  should 
trade  with  the  English,  and  every  possible  inducement  has  been 

*Rasles'  Dictionary  of  the  Abnakes'  language,  and  the  strong  box 
containing  his  chapel  furniture. 


234  APPENDIX. 

held  out  to  them,  to  attract  and  gain  their  friendship ;  but  all 
these  efforts  were  useless,  and  nothing  was  able  to  detach  them 
from  their  alliance  with  the  French.  And  yet  the  only  tie 
which  unites  us  so  closely,  is  their  firm  attachment  to  the  Cath- 
olic faith.  They  are  convinced  that  if  they  give  themselves  up 
to  the  English,  they  will  shortly  find  themselves  without  a 
missionary,  without  a  sacrifice,  without  a  sacrament,  and  even 
without  any  exercise  of  religion,  so  that  little  by  little,  they 
would  be  plunged  again  into  their  former  heathenism.  This 
firmness  of  our  Indians  has  been  subjected  to  many  kinds 
of  tests  by  their  powerful  neighbors,  but  without  their  being 
able  to  gain  anything. 

At  the  time  that  the  war  was  about  to  be  rekindled  between 
the  European  powers,  the  English  governor,  who  had  lately 
arrived  at  Boston,  requested  a  conference  with  our  Indians  by 
the  sea  shore,  on  an  island  which  he  designated.*  They  consent- 
ed, and  begged  me  to  accompany  them  thither,  that  they  might 
consult  me  with  regard  to  any  artful  propositions  which  might 
be  made  to  them,  so  that  they  could  be  assured  their  answers 
would  contain  nothing  contrary  to  their  religion,  or  the  interest 
of  the  King's  service.  I  therefore  followed  them,  with  the 
intention  of  merely  remaining  in  their  quarters  to  aid  their  coun- 
cils without  appearing  before  the  Governor.  As  we  approached 
the  island,  being  more  than  two  hundred  canoes  in  number,  the 
English  saluted  us  with  the  discharge  of  all  the  cannon  of  their 
ships,  and  the  Indians  responded  to  it  by  a  similar  discharge 
from  all  their  guns.  Immediately  afterwards  the  Governor 
appeared  on  the  island,  the  Indians  hastily  landed  and  I  thus 
found  myself  where  I  did  not  desire  to  be,  and  where  the 
Governor  did  not  wish  that  I  should  be.  As  soon  as  he  perceiv- 
ed me,  he  advanced  some  steps  to  where  I  was,  and  after  the 
usual  compliments,  returned  to  the  midst  of  his  people,  while  I 
rejoined  the  Indians. 

"  It  is  by  the  order  of  our  Queen,"  said  he,  "  that  I  have 

*  This  w^s  Governor  Dudley.  They  met  at  Casco.  It  is  impossible 
to  reconcile  Kasles'  account  of  this  interview  with  the  English  account. 


APPENDIX. 

conie  to  see  you.  She  earnestly  desires  that  you  should  live  in 
peace.  If  any  of  the  English  should  be  so  imprudent  as  to 
wrong  you,  do  not  think  to  avenge  yourselves,  but  immediately 
address  your  complaints  to  me,  and  I  will  render  you  prompt 
justice.  If  war  should  happen  to  take  place  between  us  and 
the  French,  remain  neutral,  and  do  not  in  any  way  mix  your- 
selves in  our  difficulties.  The  French  are  as  strong  as  we  are ; 
permit  us  therefore,  to  settle  our  own  quarrels.  We  will  supply 
your  wants,  we  will  take  your  furs,  and  we  will  afford  you  our 
merchandise  at  a  moderate  price."  My  presence  prevented 
him  from  saying  all  that  he  had  intended ;  for  it  was  not  without 
design  that  he  had  brought  a  minister  with  him. 

When  he  had  ceased  speaking,  the  Indians  retired  to  deliber- 
ate among  themselves,  on  the  answer  they  should  make.  During 
this  time  the  Governor  took  me  aside.  "  I  pray  you  Monsieur," 
said  he,  "  do  not  induce  the  Indians  to  make  war  on  us."  I 
replied  to  him,  "  that  my  religion  and  my  character  as  a  priest, 
engaged  me  to  give  them  only  the  councils  of  peace."  I  should 
have  spoken  more,  had  I  not  found  myself  immediately  sur- 
rounded by  a  band  of  some  twenty  young  warriors,  who  feared 
lest  the  Governor  wished  to  take  me  away.  Meantime,  the 
Indians  advanced  and  one  of  them  made  the  following  reply. 

"  Great  chief,  you  have  told  us  not  to  unite  with  the  French- 
man in  case  that  you  declare  war  against  him.  Know  that  the 
Frenchman  is  my  brother,  we  have  one  and  the  same  prayer, 
both  for  him  and  ourselves,  and  we  dwell  in  the  same  cabin  at 
two  fires,  he  is  at  one  fire  and  I  am  at  the  other  fire.  If  I 
should  see  you  enter  the  cabin  on  the  side  of  the  fire  where  my 
brother  the  Frenchman  is  seated,  I  should  watch  you  from  my 
mat  where  I  am  seated  at  the  other  fire.  If,  observing  you,  I 
perceived  that  you  had  a  hatchet,  I  should  think,  what  does  the 
Englishman  intend  to  do  with  that  hatchet  ?  Then  I  should 
raise  myself  from  my  mat  to  see  what  he  is  going  to  do.  If  he 
lifted  the  hatchet  to  strike  my  brother  the  Frenchman,  I  should 
seize  mine  and  rush  at  the  Englishman  to  strike  him.  Would 
it  be  possible-for  me  to  see  my  brother  struck  in  my  cabin,  and 


236  APPENDIX. 

I  remain  quiet  on  my  mat  ?  No,  no,  I  love  my  brother  too 
well  not  to  defend  him.  Thus  I  would  say  to  you,  Great  Chief, 
do  nothing  to  my  brother,  and  I  will  do  nothing  to  you.  Kemain 
quiet  on  your  mat,  and  I  shall  remain  quietly  on  mine." 

Thus  the  conference  ended.  A  short  time  afterwards,  some 
of  our  Indians  arrived  from  Quebec,  and  reported  that  a  French 
ship  had  brought  the  news  of  war  being  renewed  between 
France  and  England.  Immediately  our  Indians,  after  having 
deliberated  according  to  their  custom,  ordered  their  young  peo- 
ple to  kill  the  dogs,  to  make  a  war  feast,  and  to  learn  there  who 
wished  to  engage  themselves.  The  feast  took  place,  they 
arranged  the  kettle,  they  danced,  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  war' 
riors  were  present.  After  the  festival  they  appointed  a  day  to 
come  to  confession.  I  exhorted  them  to  preserve  the  same 
attachment  to  their  prayer  that  they  would  have  in  the  village  j 
to  observe  strictly  the  laws  of  war ;  not  to  be  guilty  of  any 
cruelty,  never  to  kill  any  one  except  in  the  heat  of  combat ;  to 
treat  humanely  those  who  surrendered  themselves  prisoners,  &c. 

The  manner  in  which  these  people  make  war,  renders  a  hand- 
ful of  their  warriors  more  formidable  than  would  be  a  body  of 
two  or  three  thousand  English  soldiers.  As  soon  as  they  have 
entered  the  enemy's  country,  they  divide  themselves  into  differ- 
ent parties  ;  one  of  thirty  warriors,  another  of  forty,  &c.  They 
say  to  each  other,  "  To  you  we  give  this  hamlet  to  devour  ;" 
(that  is  the  expression,)  "  To  those  others  we  give  this  village, 
&c."  Then  they  arrange  their  signal  for  a  simultaneous  attack, 
and  at  the  same  time  on  different  points.  In  this  way  our  two 
hundred  and  fifty  warriors  spread  themselves  over  more  than 
twenty  leagues  of  country,  filled  with  villages,  hamlets  and 
mansions.  On  the  day  designated  they  made  their  attack  togeth- 
er early  in  the  morning,  and  in  that  single  day,  swept  away  all 
that  the  English  possessed  there,  killed  more  than  two  hundred, 
and  took  five  hundred  prisoners,  with  the  loss  on  their  part,  of 
only  a  few  warriors  slightly  wounded.  They  returned  from 
this  expedition  to  the  village,  having  each  one  or  two  canoes  load- 
ed with  the  plunder  they  had  taken. 


APPENDIX.  237 

During  the  time  that  the  war  lasted  they  carried  desolation 
into  all  the  territories  which  belonged  to  the  English,  ravaged 
their  villages,  their  forts,  their  farms,  took  an  immense  number 
of  their  cattle,  and  made  more  than  six  hundred  prisoners.  At 
length  these  gentlemen,  persuaded  with  reason  that  in  keeping 
my  Indians  in  their  attachment  to  the  Catholic  faith,  I  was 
more  and  more  strengthening  the  bonds  which  united  them  to 
the  French  ;  set  in  operation  every  kind  of  wile  and  artifice  to 
detach  them  from  me.  Neither  offers  nor  promises  were  spared  to 
induce  the  Indians  to  deliver  me  into  their  hands,  or  at  least,  to 
send  me  back  to  Quebec,  and  take  one  of  their  ministers  in 
my  place.  They  made  many  attempts  to  surprise  me  and  carry 
me  off  by  force :  they  even  went  so  far  as  to  promise  a  thousand 
pounds  sterling  to  any  one  who  would  bring  them  my  head. 
You  may  well  believe,  my  dear  brother,  that  these  threats  are 
able  neither  to  intimidate  me,  nor  diminish  my  zeal.  I  should 
be  only  too  happy,  if  I  might  become  their  victim,  or  if  God 
should  judge  me  worthy  to  be  loaded  with  irons,  and  to  shed  my. 
blood  for  the  salvation  of  my  dear  Indians. 

At  the  first  news  which  arrived  of  peace  having  been  made 
in  Europe,  the  Governor  of  Boston  sent  word  to  our  Indians, 
that  if  they  would  assemble  in  a  place  which  he  designated,  he 
would  confer  with  them  on  the  present  conjuncture  of  affairs.* 
All  the  Indians  accordingly  repaired  to  the  place  appointed,  and 
the  Governor  addressed  them :  "  Men  of  Naranhous,  I  would 
inform  you  that  peace  is  made  between  the  King  of  France 
and  our  Queen ;  and  by  this  treaty  of  peace,  the  King  of  France 
has  ceded  to  our  Queen,  Plaisance  and  Portrail,  with  all  the 
adjacent  territories.  Thus  if  you  wish,  we  can  live  in  peace 
together.  We  have  done  so  in  former  times,  but  the  suggestions 
of  the  French  have  made  you  break  it;  and  it  was  to  please 
them  that  you  came  to  kill  us.  Let  us  forget  all  these  unfortu- 
nate affairs,  and .  cast  them  into  the  sea,  so  that  they  shall  not 
appear  any  more,  and  we  may  be  good  friends." 

*  War  closed  by  Treaty  of  Utrecht,  1713. 

21 


238  APPENDIX. 

"  It  is  well,"  replied  the  orator  in  the  name  of  the  Indians, 
"  that  the  Kings  should  be  at  peace ;  I  am  contented  that  it 
should  be  so,  and  have  no  longer  any  difficulty  in  making  peace 
with  you.  I  was  not  the  one  who  struck  you  during  the  last 
twelve  years.  It  was  the  Frenchman  who  used  my  arm  to  strike 
you.  We  were  at  peace,  it  is  true.  I  had  even  thrown  away 
my  hatchet,  I  know  not  where,  and  I  was  reposing  on  my  mat, 
thinking  of  nothing  ;  the  young  men  then  brought  a  message 
which  the  Governor  of  Canada  had  sent,  and  by  which  he  said 
to  me,  "  My  son,  the  Englishman  has  struck  me ;  help  me  to 
avenge  myself;  take  the  hatchet  and  strike  the  Englishman.  I 
who  have  always  listened  to  the  words  of  the  French  Governor, 
search  for  my  hatchet,  I  find  it  entirely  rusted ;  I  burnish  it  up ; 
I  place  it  at  my  belt  to  go  and  strike.  Now  the  Frenchman  tells 
me  to  lay  it  down ;  I  therefore  throw  it  far  from  me,  that  no  one 
may  longer  see  the  blood  with  which  it  is  reddened.  Thus  let 
us  live  in  peace.     I  consent  to  it. 

"  But  you  say  that  the  Frenchman  has  given  you  Plaisance 
and  Portrail,  which  is  in  my  neighborhood,  with  all  the  adjacent 
territories.  He  may  give  you  what  he  pleases,  but  for  me,  I 
have  my  land,  which  the  Great  Spirit  has  given  me  to  live  upon ; 
as  long  as  there  shall  be  a  child  remaining  of  my  nation,  he  will 
fight  to  preserve  it." 

Everything  ended  in  this  friendly  way ;  the  Governor  made 
a  great  feast  for  the  Indians,  after  which  each  one  withdrew. 

The  happy  arrival  of  peace  and  the  tranquility  they  began 
to  enjoy,  suggested  to  the  Indians  the  idea  of  rebuilding  our 
church,  ruined  during  a  sudden  irruption  which  the  English 
made  while  they  were  absent  from  the  village.*  As  we  were 
very  far  removed  from  Quebec,  and  were  much  nearer  Boston, 
they  sent  a  deputation  thither  of  several  of  their  princi- 
pal men  of  the  nation  to  ask  for  workmen,  with  the  prom- 
ise of  paying  them  liberally  for  their  labor.  The  Governor 
received  them  with  great  demonstrations  of  friendship,  and 

*  Col.  Hutton's  expedition  in  1705. 


APPENDIX.  239 

gave  them  all  kinds  of  caresses.  "  I  wish  myself  to  rebuild 
your  church,"  said  he,  "  and  I  will  spend  more  for  you  than  has 
been  done  by  the  French  Governor,  whom  you  call  your  father. 
It  would  be  his  duty  to  rebuild  it,  since  it  was,  in  some  degree, 
for  his  sake  that  it  was  ruined,  by  inducing  you  to  strike  me  ; 
for  as  for  me,  I  defend  myself  as  I  am  able.  He,  on  the  contrary, 
after  having  used  you  for  his  defence,  has  abandoned  you.  I 
will  do  much  more  for  you,  for  not  only  will  I  grant  you  the 
workmen,  but  I  wish  also  to  pay  them  myself,  and  to  defray  all 
the  other  expenses  of  the  edifice  which  you  desire  to  have 
erected.  But  as  it  is  not  reasonable  that  I  who  am  English, 
should  build  a  church  without  placing  there  also  an  English 
minister  to  guard  it,  and  to  teach  the  prayer,  I  will  give  you 
one  with  whom  you  will  be  contented  ;  and  you  shall  send  back 
to  Quebec  the  French  minister  who  is  now  in  your  village." 

"  Your  words  astonish  me,"  replied  the  deputy  of  the 
Indians,  "  and  you  excite  my  wonder  by  the  proposition  which 
you  make  to  me.  When  you  first  came  hither,  you  saw  me  a 
long  time  before  the  French  Governors ;  but  neither  those  who 
preceded  you,  nor  your  ministers  have  spoken  to  me  of  prayer 
of  the  great  Spirit.  They  have  seen  my  furs,  my  skins  of  the 
beaver  and  the  elk  ;  and  it  is  about  these  only,  they  have  thought ; 
these  they  have  sought  with  the  greatest  eagerness,  so  that 
I  was  not  able  to  furnish  them  enough;  and  when  I  car- 
ried them  a  large  quantity,  I  was  their  great  friend,  but  no 
farther.  On  the  contrary,  my  canoe  having  one  day  missed  the 
route,  I  lost  my  way  and  wandered  a  long  time  at  random,  until 
at  last  I  landed  near  Quebec,  in  a  great  village  of  the  Mgonquins, 
where  the  black  robes*  were  teaching.  Scarcely  had  I  arrived 
when  one  of  the  black  robes  came  to  see  me.  I  was  loaded 
with  furs,  but  the  French  black  robe  scarcely  deigned  to  look 
at  them.  He  spoke  to  me  at  once  of  the  Great  Spirit  of  Para- 
dise, of  hell,  of  the  prayer,  which  is  the  only  way  to  reach  heav- 
en. I  heard  him  with  pleasure,  and  was  so  much  delighted  in 
his  conversations,  that  I  remained  a  long  time  in  that  village,  to 

*  The  Jesuits. 


240  APPENDIX. 

listen  to  them.  In  fine,  the  prayer  pleased  me,  and  I  asked  him 
to  instruct  me.  I  demanded  baptism,  and  I  received  it.  At 
last  I  returned  to  my  country,  and  related  what  had  happened 
to  me.  They  envied  my  happiness,  they  wished  to  participate 
in  it.  They  departed  to  find  the  black  robe,  and  demand  of 
him  baptism.  It  is  thus  that  the  French  have  acted  towards 
me.  If  as  soon  as  you  had  seen  me,  you  had  spoken  to  me  of 
the  prayer,  I  should  have  had  the  unhappiness  to  pray  as  you 
do,  for  I  was  not  capable  of  discovering  whether  your  prayer 
was  good.  Thus  I  tell  you  that  I  hold  to  the  prayer  of  the 
French.  I  agree  to  it,  and  I  shall  be  faithful  to  it,  ever,  until 
the  earth  is  burnt  up  and  destroyed.  Keep  then  your  work- 
men, your  gold  and  your  minister,  I  will  not  speak  to  you 
more  of  them ;  I  will  ask  the  French  Governor,  my  father, 
to  send  them  to  me." 

Indeed,  Monsieur,  the  Governor  had  no  sooner  been  apprised 
of  the  ruin  of  our  church,  than  he  sent  some  workmen  to  re- 
build it.  It  possesses  a  beauty  which  would  cause  it  to  be 
admired  even  in  Europe,  and  nothing  has  been  spared  to 
adorn  it.  You  have  been  able  to  see  by  the  detail  I  have  given 
in  my  letter  to  my  nephew,  that  in  the  depths  of  these  forests, 
and  among  these  Indian  tribes,  the  divine  service  is  performed 
with  much  propriety  and  dignity.  It  is  to  this  point  that  I  am 
very  attentive,  not  only  when  the  Indians  reside  in  the  village, 
but  also  all  the  time  that  they  are  obliged  to  remain  by  the  sea 
shore,  where  they  go  twice  each  year  for  the  purpose  of  ob- 
taining means  of  subsistance.  Our  Indians  have  so  entirely 
destroyed  the  game  in  this  part  of  the  country,  that  during  ten 
years  they  have  scarcely  found  either  elk  or  roebuck.  The  bears 
and  beavers  have  also  become  very  rare.  They  have  scarcely 
anything  on  which  to  live,  but  Indian  corn,  beans  and  pump- 
kins. They  grind  the  corn  between  two  stones  to  reduce  it  to 
meal,  then  they  make  it  into  a  kind  of  hominy,  which  they  often 
season  with  fat  or  dried  fish.  When  the  corn  fails,  then  they 
search  in  the  ploughed  lands  for  potatoes,  or  acorns,  which  last 
they  esteem  as  much  as  corn.     After  having  dried  them  they 


APPENDIX. 


241 


are  boiled  in  a  kettle  with  ashes  to  take  away  the  bitterness. 
For  myself  I  eat  them  dry,  and  they  answer  for  bread. 

At  a  particular  season  of  the  year,  they  repair  to  a  river  not 
far  distant,  where  during  one  month  the  fish  ascend  in  such 
great  numbers,  that  a  person  could  fill  fifty  thousand  barrels  in 
a  day,  if  he  could  endure  the  labor.  They  are  a  kind  of  large 
herrings,  very  agreeable  to  the  taste  when  fresh,  crowding  one 
upon  another  to  the  depth  of  a  foot.  They  are  drawn  out  as  if 
they  were  water.  The  Indians  dry  them  for  eight  or  ten  days, 
and  live  on  them  during  all  the  time  that  they  are  planting 
their  fields. 

It  is  only  in  the  spring  that  they  plant  their  corn,  and  they 
do  not  give  it  their  last  tillage  until  towards  Corpus  Christi  day. 
After  this  they  deliberate  as  to  what  spot  on  the  sea  shore 
they  shall  go  to  find  something  to  live  on  until  the  harvest,  which 
does  not  ordinarily  take  place  until  a  little  after  the  festival  of 
the  assumption;  (The  15th  of  August.)  When  their  delibera- 
tions are  over,  they  send  a  messenger  to  pray  me  to  repair  to 
their  assembly.  As  soon  as  I  have  arrived  there,  one  of  them 
addresses  me  thus,  in  the  name  of  all  the  others :  "  Our  father' 
what  I  say  to  you,  is  what  all  those  whom  you  see  here  would 
say ;  you  know  us,  you  know  that  we  are  in  want  of  food ;  we 
have  had  difficulty  in  giving  the  last  tillage  to  our  fields,  and 
now  have  no  other  resource  until  the  harvest,  but  to  go  and 
seek  provisions  by  the  sea  shore.  It  will  be  hard  for  us  to  aban- 
don our  prayer,  and  it  is  for  this  reason  we  hope  you  will  be 
willing  to  accompany  us,  so  that  while  seeking  the  means  of  liv- 
ing, we  shall  not  at  all  interrupt  our  prayer.  Such  and  such 
persons  will  embark  you  ;  and  what  you  have  to  carry  with  you 
shall  be  distributed  in  the  other  canoes.  This  is  what  I  have  to 
say  to  you."  I  have  no  sooner  replied  to  them  kekikberba,  (it  is 
an  indian  name,  which  implies,  I  hear  you,  my  children,  I  agree 
to  what  you  ask,)  than  they  all  cry  out  together,  oriorie,  which  is 
an  expression  of  thanks.    Immediately  we  leave  the  village. 

As  soon  as  they  reach  the  place  where  they  are  to  pass  the 
night ;  they  fix  up  stakes  at  intervals,  in  the  form  of  a  chapel ; 
21* 


APPENDIX. 

they  surround  them  with  a  large  tent  made  of  ticking,  which 
has  no  opening  except  in  front.  It  is  all  finished  in  a  quarter 
of  an  hour.  I  always  carry  with  me  a  beautiful  board  of  cedar 
about  four  feet  in  length,  with  the  necessary  supports,  and  this 
serves  for  an  altar,  while  above  it  they  place  an  appropriate 
canopy.  I  ornament  the  interior  of  the  chapel  with  very  beau- 
tiful silk  cloths ;  a  mat  of  reeds,  dyed  and  admirably  made ;  a 
large  bear]  skin  serves  for  a  carpet.  They  carry  this  always 
prepared,  and  no  sooner  are  they  settled  down  than  the  chapel 
is  arranged.  At  night  I  take  my  repose  on  a  carpet ;  the  Indi- 
ans sleep  in  the  air  in  the  open  fields,  if  it  does  not  rain ;  but 
if  the  snow  or  rain  falls,  they  cover  themselves  with  bark  which 
they  carry  with  them,  and  which  they  have  rolled  out  until  it 
resembles  cloth.  If  the  journey  be  made  in  the  winter,  they 
remove  the  snow  from  a  space  large  enough  for  the  chapel  to 
occupy,  and  arrange  it  as  usual.  There  each  day,  are  made  the 
morning  and  evening  prayers ;  and  the  sacrifice  of  the  mass  is 
offered  up. 

When  the  Indians  have  reached  their  destination,  the  very 
next  day  they  occupy  themselves  in  raising  the  church,  which 
they  dress  up  with  their  bark  cloths.  I  carry  with  me  my 
plate  and  everything  which  is  necessary  to  ornament  the  choir, 
which  I  hang  with  silk  cloths  and  beautiful  calicos.  Divine 
service  is  performed  there  as  at  the  village,  and  in  fact  they 
form  a  village  with  all  their  wigwams  made  of  bark,  which  are 
all  prepared  in  less  than  an  hour. 

Both  of  these  letters  he  closes  with  the  determin- 
ation to  remain  with  his  beloved  people,  although 
he  knew  the  dangers  that  threatened  him  from  his 
enemies.  In  the  midst  of  his  perils  he  says,  "Noth- 
ing but  death  shall  separate  me  from  my  flock,  I 
count  not  my  life'  dear  unto  myself,  so  that  I  may 
finish  my  course  with  joy." 

This  spirit  is  thus  represented  by  Deering  in  his 
Tragedy  of  Carrabasset : 


APPENDIX.  243 

"  What !  to  gain 
A  few  short  years,  (for  few  they  are  at  most) 
Should  I  relinguish  that  to  which  a  life 
Hath  been  devoted  ?     No,  it  cannot  be. 
The  slender  fabric,  that  with  so  much  care 
And  labor  was  erected,  still  requires 
My  feeble  aid ;  and,  should  I  leave  it  now, 
Who  would  prevent  its  tottering  to  its  fall  ? 
To  me  this  blind  deluded  race  are  precious ; 
'T  was  for  their  benefit  I  sought  these  wilds, 
And  here  will  I  remain  till  hope  expires." 

The  following  translation*  of  a  letter  dated  the 
very  day  of  the  destruction  of  Norridgewock  is 
found  in  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Collections, 
vol.  8,  p.  245. 

Mon.  Ralley  the  Romish  Priest  at  Norridgewalk,  his  letter  to  his  Rev. 
Father  dated  August  12th,  1724,  the  very  day  that  Captain  Harmon 
and  his  men  slew  him  and  a  number  of  Indians. 

(Copy.)  Narridgewalk,  Aug.  23,  N.  S. 

12.  O.S. 
My  Rev.  Father, 

My  people  are  returned  from  their  last  expedition  wherein 
one  of  their  bravest  champions  was  killed,  believing  there  was 
about  two  hundred  English  divided  in  three  partys  or  bands  to 
drive  them  out  of  their  camp,  and  expecting  a  further  number 
to  enforce  them,  in  order  to  ruin  all  the  corn  in  the  fields  with- 
out doubt  but  I  said  to  them  how  could  that  be,  seeing  we  are 
daily  surrounding  and  making  inrodes  upon  them  every  where 
in  the  midst  of  their  land,  and  they  not  comeing  out  of  their  fort, 
which  they  have  upon  our  own  land,  besides  in  all  the  warr  you 

*The  orthography  of  this  letter  is  bad ;  probably  a  rough  translation 
from  the  French.    We  publish  it  from  the  copy. 


244  APPENDIX. 

have  had  with  them,  did  you  ever  see  them  come  to  attack  you 
in  the  spring,  summer,  or  in  the  fall,  when  they  knew  you  were 
in  your  habitations,  you  knew  it  you  say  yourselves  that  they 
never  did  but  when  you  was  not,  but  when  you  were  in  the 
woods,  for  if  they  knew  there  were  but  12  or  15  men  in  your 
dwellings  they  dare  not  approach  you  with  one  hundred.  We 
told  you  after  the  fall  fight  of  Kee  Kepenaglieseek  that  the  Eng- 
lish would  come  with  the  nation  of  Irognas  to  revenge  them- 
selves, you  opposed  it,  and  said  they  would  not  and  yet  they  did, 
you  see  now  whether  you  are  in  the  right.  I  had  reason  to  be- 
lieve it,  founded  on  the  kings  word,  who  could  ever  think  he 
should  forge  such  a  falsehood,  and  how  should  I  then  answer 
right.  And  it  was  to  make  good  their  false  designs  that  they 
come  here  to  show  themselves  a  master  of  your  land  (contrary  to 
my  expectation)  where  they  would  not  have  a  Romish  Priest  to 
dwell,  and  if  they  did  not  burn  the  church  it  is  because  I  did 
send  them  word  in  your  behalfe  that  if  they  did  burn  it  you 
should  burn  all  their  temples,  therefore  there  was  an  order  to  the 
officer  not  to  burn  any  thing,  they  hearken  to  all  my  reasons 
afforegoeing  ;but  follow  their  own,  they  design  to  quitt  the  vil- 
lage for  a  fortnight  and  to  goe  five  or  six  leagues  up  the  river 
they  proposed  it  to  me  and  I  have  given  them  my  consent. 

I  just  now  received  a  letter  from  father  Loveijat  with  four 
cod  fish  out  of  eight  that  he  sent  me,  the  bearers  have  eat  four  by 
the  way  and  said  it  was  a  case  of  necessity  being  for  want  of 
provisions  though  their  village  is  full  of  cod  fish  out  of  15  or  16 
vesselles  they  have  taken,  the  father  sent  me  word  that  by  a 
suitable  opportunity  he  shall  send  me  more,  and  has  sent  me 
word  that  they  have  newly  taken  three  vessells  and  killed  ten 
men  some  on  the  spot  and  others  by  reason  they  revolted  who 
had  spared  their  lives,  they  have  attempted  to  burn  the  fort  St. 
George  by  two  fire  ships  or  vessells,  but  for  want  of  wind  they 
miscarried.  The  fire  began  to  take  the  wood  part  of  the  fort 
whereupon  they  heard  the  English  make  a  great  cry  and  lamen- 
tation, some  of  them  comeing  out  of  the  fort  to  attempt  to  extin- 
guish the  fire,  which  the  Indians  could  not  kill  by  reason  of  their 


APPENDIX. 


245 


being  posted  on  the  contrary  side,  they  not  forseeing  that  the 
English  could  come  out  of  the  fort  on  that  side,  the  fire  of  one  of 
the  vessels  went  out  soon  of  it  selfe  and  the  English  had  it.  Af- 
ter that  nine  of  the  Indians  went  off  in  a  vessell,  where  they 
were  attacked  by  two  English  vessells  they  engaged  some  time, 
and  the  Indians  haveing  no  more  powder  attempted  to  board 
one  of  them  but  they  shunned  it,  therefore  the  Indians  were  ob- 
lidged  to  retire,  eleven  other  Indians  went  in  a  vessell  and  espi- 
ed two  English  vessells  in  the  road  and  went  to  plunder  them, 
but  seeing  they  were  full  of  men,  and  themselves  not  able  to 
stand  them,  did  save  themselves  by  swimming  ashore  and  leave- 
ing  their  vessells.  Says  the  father,  I  attribute  the  bad  success 
to  their  ingratitude  to  God  and  disobedience  to  me,  a  vessell 
said  he  which  came  from  the  mines  to  bring  us  prosisions,  said 
that  an  English  man  assured  him  that  they  had  a  very  great  in- 
clination to  peace  at  Boston  and  he  doubted  not  but  it  would  be 
concluded  the  next  fall,  which  appears  very  probable  because  a 
vessel  which  went  from  hence  to  Boston  to  bring  a  ransom  for 
the  prisoners  that  are  here,  is  not  returned,  notwithstanding  the 
same  time  is  long  since  expired,  and  I  have  answered  them  that 
did  not  agree  with  the  counsle  Dr.  Orange,  that  was  resolved  to 
keep  their  land,  I  further  said  that  I  would  never  permit  my 
people  to  receive  a  ransom  for  those  they  take  for  there  is  not 
one  but  would  ransom  himselfe  and  if  we  should  hearken  to  it, 
the  English  would  never  think  to  return  the  land,  for  the  loss  of 
their  people,  that  they  would  easily  buy  &c.  The  father  Loy- 
ard  wrote  to  him  that  his  people  with  Kinckemoeks  have  been 
in  two  partys  to  make  an  attempt  on  the  English  at  Port  Roy- 
all,  one  of  these  partys  attacked  the  fort  itselfe  where  they  did 
kill  six  men  and  burnt  two  houses  after  they  had  plundered 
them,  and  the  other  party  is  not  yet  returned  back.  My  peo- 
ple are  absolutely  willing  to  return  to  those  forts  where  one  of 
their  brave  champions  was  killed  in  the  last  party.  I  am  very 
glad  that  Mr.  L'entendant  has  accepted  my  present,  they  have 
brought  me  my  chocolate  the  two  bills  that  James  was  to  have 
brought  with  him  was  cast  away,  by  over  setting  a  canoe  ;  I  am 


246  APPENDIX. 

well  stocked  with  chocolate  for  a  long  time  which  I  came  easily 
by,  and  it  shall  not  be  presently  carried  away,  for  it  is  very 
weighty,  as  for  the  remaining  part  do  you  keep  for  me,  it  may 
be  it  troubles  you  as  much  as  it  would  trouble  me  if  I  had  it. 
The  father  Dupy  had  a  warehouse  where  I  put  all  the  wollen  and 
linnen  shot  and  powder  as  well  as  the  blanketing  and  gun  you 
got  for  me.  Since  the  canoe  of  the  Harones  was  here,  I  added 
those  things  to  his  merchandize  for  him,  to  make  the  best  pro- 
fit— as  for  me  I'm  contented  and  I  think  well  paid,  the  wine 
shall  be  put  in  the  cellar  to  be  mixed  with  that  of  the  house,  if 
the  tobacco  were  here  it  should  be  put  in  the  magazine,  I  am 
very  much  obliged  to  you  my  Rev.  Father  for  the  care  you  take 
of  me,  you  are  willing  I  should  live  as  a  chanoine  till  the  spring, 
by  the  plentifull  supply  you  have  sent  me  by  Panseawen,  I  have 
yet  considerable  for  my  selfe  for  the  winter.  Since  thou  has 
sent  me  some  wine,  I  take  a  glass  after  my  mass,  but  I  dont  find 
it  keeps  me  so  well  as  a  dram  of  brandy.  I  want  nothing  but 
Spanish  wine  for  the  mass  I  have  enough  for  my  selfe  for  above 
12  months,  therefore  I  pray  the  3d  time  to  send  no  more  wine, 
I  shall  send  for  more  when  I  want. 

INTERCEPTED  LETTER  FROM  RALLE,  1724.— TAKEN  FROM 
MASS.  HIST.  COLLECTIONS— VOL.  8,  PAGE  266. 
My  people  returned  in  the  spring,  having  learnt  what  had 
passed  in  the  winter,  made  a  party  of  forty  men  against  the 
English,  not  with  a  design  to  kill,  but  to  put  them  in  mind  of 
their  word,  and  to  make  them  draw  off.  In  one  night  they 
ranged  near  ten  leagues  of  the  country  where  the  English  had 
settled,  broke  into  their  houses,  bound  their  men,  which  they 
made  prisoners  to  the  number  of  sixty-four,  pillaged  their 
houses  and  burnt  all  — and  this  party  being  returned,  another 
fitted  out  to  pillage  and  burn  many  houses  with,  we  hear,  a 
stone  fort ;  and  at  length,  they  took  up  the  hatchet  against  the 
English,  and  carried  it  to  a  village  of  Canada.  The  warriors 
set  out  on  their  way,  and  being  arrived  here,  I  embarked  with 
them  to  go  to  war,  being  in  all,  160,  we  arrived  at  the  village 


APPENDIX.  247 

they  went  to  attack,  which  consisted  of  fifty  fair  houses,  sup. 
ported  by  five  forts,  two  of  stone  and  three  of  wood.  At  break 
of  day,  ten  Englishmen  coming  out  of  their  stone  fort  with 
arms,  seven  of  my  people  set  upon  them,  killed  some,  but  one 
of  ours  being  wounded  in  the  thigh  was  brought  to  the  camp 
and  the  English  dare  not,  after  that,  come  out  of  their  stone 
fort  any  more,  where  all  the  inhabitants  had  sheltered  them- 
selves to  the  number  of  600  men,  besides  women  and  children. 
My  people  still  inviting  them  to  come  out,  and  nobody  appear- 
ing, they  fell  upon  the  houses  supposing  the  inhabitants  had 
been  there,  which  they  found  empty,  and  pillaged  and  burnt 
the  m  all  with  their  three  forts  of  wood ;  they  burnt  all  their 
works  of  wood,  filled  up  their  wells,  killed  their  cattle,  oxen? 
cows,  horses,  sheep,  swine;  and  these  600  miserable  English- 
men saw  all  this  without  daring  to  come  out ;  and  as  for  myself 
to  pleasure  the  Euglish,  I  made  my  appearance  and  shewed 
myself  to  them  several  times,  which  perhaps  increased  their  fury 
against  me,  while  they  saw  me,  but  dare  do  nothing  to  me  al- 
though they  knew  that  the  governor  had  set  my  head  at  a  thou- 
s  and  livres  sterling ;  I  shall  not  part  with  it  nevertheless  for  all 
the  sterling  money  in  England.  But  that  which  I  see  most  per- 
plexing and  pittiful  in  all,  is,  that  the  English  still  keep  their 
forts,  and  the  Indian  arms  not  being  able  to  do  any  thing  against 
them,  they  remain  still,  masters  of  the  land,  and  unless  the 
French  join  with  the  Indians,  the  land  is  lost.  This  is  what 
now  discourageth  the  Indians,  for  which  reason  they  have  left 
Norridgewock  fort  for  to  people  the  villages  of  Canada  :  they 
would  have  carried  me  with  them  but  I  bid  them  go.  But  as 
for  me,  I  remain,  and  they  are  gone,  and  about  eight  or  nine 
stays  here  with  me.  We  know  that  the  Court  shall  judge  con- 
cerning this  country  and  the  Indians  have  quitted  being  per- 
suaded that  the  English  to  revenge  themselves  for  the  damage 
we  have  done  will  come  and  burn  Norridgewock. 

The  letter  aforewritten  was  taken  among  Sob.  Halle's  papers 
at  Norridgewock. — J.  Willard. 

Endorsed,  "  Letter  from  Seb.  Halle,  1 724." 


248  APPENDIX. 

Francis,  in  his  "  Life  of  Rasles,"  thus  alludes  to 
the  plunder  of  the  church,  "  strong  box,"  &,c. 

"  Rale  speaks  of  the  plunder  of  his  church  and  house,  without 
telling  what  was  carried  away.  In  the  alarm  of  his  flight,  he  had 
left  behind  his  papers,  in  his  "  strong  box,"  as  it  is  commonly- 
called.  Of  these  Westbrook's  party  took  possession.  The  soli- 
tary priest  must  have  felt  the  loss  deeply.  A  portion  of  these 
papers,  we  are  told,  were  letters  he  had  received  from  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Canada. 

But  the  most  valuable  part  of  the  plunder  was  Rale's  manu- 
script Dictionary  of  the  Abnaki  Language.  This  dictionary, 
to  which  I  have  before  referred,  had  been  a  favorite  labor  with 
him  for  many  years  ;  and  the  students  of  scientific  philology 
will  never  cease  to  be  grateful  to  him  for  the  patient  toil  he  ex- 
pended on  the  work.  The  original  manuscript,  carefully  pre- 
served in  strong  binding,  is  now  in  the  library  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege, to  which  it  was  presented  by  Middlecott  Cooke.  It  is  a 
quarto  volume,  in  Rale's  own  hand-writing. 

The  work  is  divided  into  two  parts.  The  first  is  a  dictionary 
of  the  Abnaki  dialect,  in  French  and  Indian,  the  French  word 
or  phrase  being  given  first,  and  then  the  corresponding  Indian 
expression,  generally,  though  not  uniformly,  in  distinct  columns. 
Two  hundred  and  five  leaves,  a  comparatively  small  part  of 
which  have  writing  on  both  sides,  and  the  remainder  on  one  side 
only,  make  up  this  part.  The  second  part  has  twenty-five 
leaves,  both  sides  of  which  are  generally  filled  with  writing.  It 
is  entitled  Parlicul&,  an  account  of  the  particles,  the  Indian 
words  being  placed  first,  and  the  explanations  given  in  French 
or  Latin. 

One  can  scarcely  look  at  this  important  manuscript,  with  its 
dingy  and  venerable  leaves,  without  associations  of  deep  interest 
with  those  labors,  and  that  life  in  the  wilderness,  of  which  it  is 
now  the  only  memorial.  Students  of  the  Indian  dialects  have 
most  justly  considered  it  a  precious  contribution  to  the  materials 
of  philological  science.    Many  years  ago,  its  value  arrested  the 


APPENDIX.  249 

attention  of  that  highly  distinguished  scholar,  Mr.  John  Picker- 
ing, to  whose  studies  in  the  philosophy  of  language  the  literary 
public  is  so  deeply  indebted.  In  1818,  he  published,  as  an  ap- 
pendix to  his  remarks  on  the  "  Orthography  of  the  Indian  Lan- 
guages of  North  America,"  an  accurate  account  of  Bale's  manu- 
script dictionary,  expressing  the  hope  that  it  might  as  soon  as 
possible  be  published.  The  so  much  desired  object  was  not 
effected  till  1833.  To  Mr.  Pickering's  persevering  interest  and 
labors,  therefore,  we  owe  it,  that  this  very  important  document 
of  Indian  language  is  placed  beyond  the  reach  of  the  accidents 
to  which  manuscripts  are  ever  liable. 

A  force  was  detached,  according  to  Hutchinson,  consisting  of 
two  hundred  and  eight  men,  under  the  command  of  Captains 
Harman,  Moulton,  and  Bourn,  and  Lieutenant  Bean,  who,  on 
the  8th  of  August,  (O.  S.)  1724,  left  Richmond  Fort  on  the 
Kennebec.  Three  Mohawk  Indians  were  in  the  party.  The 
next  day  brought  them  to  Teconnet.  Here  they  left  forty  of 
their,  men  to  guard  the  seventeen  whale  boats,  in  which  they 
had  ascended  the  river.  The  remainder  of  the  company  began 
their  march,  on  the  10th,  for  Norridgewock.  In  the  evening  of 
the  same  day,  they  saw  two  Indian  women,  whom  they  fired 
upon,  one,  the  daughter  of  Bomaseen,  was  killed ;  the  other, 
his  wife,  was  taken  prisoner,  and  gave  them  information  about 
the  state  of  things  at  Norridgewock.  On  the  1 2th,  about  mid- 
day they  were  near  the  fated  village.  Here  the  troops  were 
divided.  Harman,  with  sixty  or  eighty  men,  filed  off  in  the 
direction  of  the  Indian  cornfields,  where  it  was  supposed  some 
of  them  might  be  found.  Moulton,  with  the  rest  of  the  soldiers 
proceeded  directly  to  the  village,  which  they  reached  at  about 
three  o'clock.  The  party  advanced  in  the  most  cautious  silence, 
without  at  first  seeing  one  of  the  inhabitants.  But  soon  one 
of  them  came  out  of  his  wigwam,  and  looking  around,  saw  the 
enemy  close  upon  him.  He  shouted  the  war-whoop,  and  ran 
for  his  gun.  The  alarm  rang  through  the  village,  which  then 
consisted  of  about  sixty  fighting  men,  besides  the  aged,  the 
women  and  children. 

22 


250  APPENDIX. 

The  warriors  rushed  forth  to  the  fight,  and  the  rest  fled. 
Moulton,  believing  that  the  Indians  in  their  hurry  and  confu- 
sion, would  overshoot,  reserved  the  fire  of  his  men  till  they  had 
discharged  their  muskets.  It  was  as  he  expected ;  not  one  of 
the  English  was  hurt.  The  fire  of  the  company  which  followed, 
made  havoc  among  the  Indians,  who  discharged  their  guns  once 
more,  and  then  fled  precipitately  towards  the  river.  Some 
sprang  into  canoes,  but  had  no  paddles ;  others  swam,  and  a  few 
of  the  tallest  forded  the  stream,  the  water  being  about  six  feet 
deep  at  that  time.  Their  pursuers  hurried  after  them,  and 
shot  them  in  the  water.  It  was  believed  that  not  more  than 
fifty  of  the  whole  village  gained  the  opposite  bank  ;  and  of  these 
some  fell  from  the  English  balls  before  they  could  reach  the 
woods. 

Moulton's  soldiers  then  returned  to  the  village.  There  they 
found  Rale  firing  from  one  of  the  wigwams  upon  a  few  of  the 
English  who  had  not  joined  in  the  pursuit.  Moulton  had  given 
orders  not  to  kill  the  priest.  But  a  wound  inflicted  upon  one  of 
the  English  by  Rale's  fire  from  the  wigwam,  so  exasperated 
Jaques,  a  lieutenant,  that  he  burst  the  door,  and  shot  Rale 
through  the  head.  This  disobedience  of  orders  Jaques  excused 
by  alleging,  that  when  he  broke  into  the  wigwam,  Rale  was 
loading  his  gun,  and  declared,  "  that  he  would  neither  give  nor 
take  quarter."  How  little  confidence  can  be  placed  in  this  state- 
ment of  the  lieutenant  we  learn  from  the  fact,  that  according  to 
Hutchinson,  Moulton  himself  doubted  its  truth  at  the  time,  and 
utterly  disproved  the  action. 

An  old  Indian  chief,  named  Mogg,*  who  had  killed  one  of  the 
Mohawks  from  his  wigwam,  was  shot,  and  his  helpless  squaw  and 
children  were  butchered.  The  other  noted  warriors  found 
among  the  dead  were  Bomaseen,  Job,  Carabasset,  Wissemeinet, 
and  Bomaseen's  son-in  -law. 

*Mogg  Megone. 

Note.  The  quotations  above  cited,  taken  from  various  authorities, 
we  publish  without  criticism,  leaving  the  reader  to  form  his  own  judg- 
ment from  the  testimony.  Much  of  speculation  exists  in  the  public 
mind  relative  to  the  true  character  of  Sebastian  Rasles.  We  simply 
venture  the  opinion  that  a  shade  of  imperfection  rests  upon  his  character. 


APPENDIX. 


251 


The  following  account  of  the  massacre  is  recorded 
in  the  7th  vol.  Mass.  Hist.  Collections,  -p.  254. 

On  the  23d  of  August,  [O.  S.  12th,]  1724,  several  hundred 
men  came  to  Nanrantsouak.  In  consequence  of  the  thick- 
ets with  which  the  village  was  surrounded,  and  the  little  care 
taken  by  the  inhabitants  to  prevent  a  surprise,  the  invaders  were 
not  discovered  until  the  very  instant  they  made  a  discharge  of 
their  guns,  and  their  shot  had  penetrated  the  Indian  wigwams. 
There  were  not  above  fifty  fighting  men  in  the  village.  These 
took  to  their  arms,  and  ran  out  in  confusion,  not  with  any  ex- 
pectation of  defending  the  place  against  an  enemy  already  in 
possession,  but  to  favor  the  escape  of  their  wives,  their  old  men 
and  children,  and  to  give  them  time  to  gain  the  other  side  of  the 
river,  of  which  the  English  had  not  then  possessed  themselves. 

The  noise  and  tumult  gave  Father  Rasles  notice  of  the  dan- 
ger his  converts  were  in.  Not  intimidated,  he  went  out  to  meet 
the  assailants,  in  hopes  to  draw  all  their  attention  to  himself  and 
secure  his  flock  at  the  peril  of  his  own  life.  He  was  not  disap- 
pointed. As  soon  as  he  appeared  the  English  set  up  a  shout, 
which  was  followed  by  a  shower  of  shot,  and  he  fell  near  a  cross, 
which  he  had  erected  in  the  middle  of  the  village,  and  with  him 
seven  Indians  who  had  accompanied  him  to  shelter  him  with  their 
own  bodies.  The  Indians,  in  the  greatest  consternation  at  his 
death,  immediately  took  to  flight,  and  crossed  the  river  some  by 
fording  and  others  swimming.  The  enemy  pursued  them  until 
they  entered  far  into  the  woods ;  and  then  returned,  and  pil- 
laged and  burnt  the  church  and  the  wigwams.  Notwithstand- 
ing so  many  shot  had  been  fired,  only  thirty  of  the  Indians  were 
slain,  and  fourteen  wouuded.  After  having  accomplished  their 
object,  the  English  withdrew  with  such  precipitation  that  it 
seemed  rather  a  flight  than  a  victory. 

•'  The  '  strong  box '  which  contained  his  papers  and  inkstand, 
is  also  preserved.  It  is  of  a  curious  and  complicated  construc- 
tion.   In  the  lower  part  is  a  secret  drawer  or  compartment,  to 


RETURN     CIRCULATION  DEPARTMENT 

TO— *      202  Main  Library 

LOAN  PERIOD  1 
HOME  USE 

2                               3 

4 

5                               ( 

b 

ALL  BOOKS  MAY  BE  RECALLED  AFTER  7  DAYS 

1  -month  loans  may  be  renewed  by  calling  642-3405 

6-month  loans  may  be  recharged  by  bringing  books  to  Circulation  Desk 

Renewals  and  recharges  may  be  made  4  days  prior  to  due  date 

DUE  AS  STAMPED  BELOW 

APR13MH) 

RECEIVED 

BY 

APR    9  1c 

R6 

CIRCULATION 

DEPT. 

V>ll\V<Uw*  •  •»■*•  ^ 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  BERKELEY 
FORM  NO.  DD6.  60m,  3/80  BERKELEY,  CA  94720  @$ 


m»'<-UBBARY.U. 


